Making a Difference!

We asked this question and here are the responses: If you would like to add to these write to difference@hippy.com Click here to view more answers to question of the week

Raising my one year old daughter in love and laughter is the only answer I could give. I'm not fighting the good fight on marijuana legalization (although I believe in it) and I'm not devoting my spare time to saving the earth's ecology (although I do think that it is important as well). My crusade is to be the best daddy I can be even though the world I am raising her in is ugly and cruel. She will be part of the solution, not the problem. I will see to that. Because I love her and because that's all that matters, I think. This response might not be good enough for you, but it's the most important thing in the world to me. This is the real front line. This is the true reality. This is where all the love in the world gets its start. In love and Peace, Andrew Polley arpolley@aol.com

I feel that i have been blessed by God with the gift of compassion. I am especially interested in working with those with mental or physical disabilities. Last summer i was a volunteer at the Muscular Dystrophy's annual summer camp. I am going to school to be an occupational therapist(it's in the rehab department, very similar to physical therapy.) I have worked at a group home for the past two years. I take care of nine residents who have developmental handicaps. Such as Down Syndrome, Autism, etc. I really love this line of work. The people i take care of are some of the most innocent, sweet, and special i have ever met. I find it very rewarding. It makes me feel really good inside to know that i somehow contributed to the happiness of other people. The love, hugs, and kisses you get in return from these people is all the thanks you need. Peace, jen

I love and enjoy every moment of life. I think that's adifference. Very few people manage to be happy in spite of all that may be in life and ignore evil sides. Just feeling the joy inside you...That's a fact which makes you different. BREATHE! It's like a dream coming true... Having a strong belief that your hopes will come true...My biggest dream is to get a caravan and travel all around the world, yeah why not? FREEDOM! This belief makes me different. love from, 17-year-old-girl from Turkey (make peace, brother)

while i am an OLD hippy of 54 i still remember my roots in activism... i speak on the uses of hemp and pot and the abuses of the governments war on people whenever possible... as well as support local efforts to expand the minds of the dow/dupont etc mind washed citizens... unfortunatly i am now a prisioner in my own land.... as i am subject to UA i have not been able to have releaf from my joint pain in several years...

I do not litter, recycle when possible, do not eat meat, refrain from synthetics and chemicals when possible, keep my car tuned up to lessen pollution, and walk or ride a bike when I can. I also advocate and teach others the importance of saving mother Earth. Thanks, Brad Eley

My name is Piper, I am sixteen and volunteer at a camp, but it is a very speacial camp. There I aid teachers in helping disable kids( down syndrome, auotistisic, weaver syndrome) overcome their problems. Not only do I help these kids learn, but I help them to understand that they are no different then rest of the world; which really boosts their selfesteem.

positive thinking does the trick not only for yourself but for all the people that live near you peace, Merijn from belgium
I am 53 years old, that is, a true hippy of the 60's. I try to help the troubled youth of today, by making time to listen to them, by trying to show them I care, by never losing my cool with them, and by treating them as equals. I have an Internet Cafe, where they can meet and talk, or simply unburden themselves to me. I think - and hope - I am making a difference... They keep coming back to tell me of their failures and successes; the latter more often lately!!

For a career, I specialize in building and restoring wetlands and other natural habitats. I could make more money doing something else, but it wouldn't be worth it. I also make a habit in helping people in need. It's amazing how much it blows some peoples mind to have someone stop & help if they're broke down on the road etc. The more good karma we pass around the better the world will be.

i'm going to be part of the drumming for world peace that is happening all over the world on january 1, 2000. go to http://www.allonetribedrum.com/aotfoundation/drum2000.shtml for more information! i recycle, and i encourage everyone to do the same, there is a new political group that has been set up where i live that is dedicated to help heal the earth, and stop it from further damage. i'm going to try to be part of them and/or vote! it is my dream to set up a group of people protesting against war. the argument would be that we have a government that can stop war and they don't. and war is never won by anyone, everyone loses in a war...etc, etc.... there is so much that i want to do!! i guess the question is whether or not i will do it!! i am 15 years old, and i am too young to do alot..but i am also lazy and that is no excuse!!! what i can do write now is smile, and try to spread peace and love!! and promote happiness! if anyone wants to e-mail me, here's my address: avani_sunshine@hotmail.com PEACE AND SUNSHINE!!!

I am trying to teach everyone that conservation and recycling is very important. All living things have a part in our ecosystem, and by making people aware of this, we can come closer to reaching an understanding that nature is more powerful than humans. By not conserving, reducing, and recycling, we are destroying our lands, oceans, and atmosphere. This in the end, will create an unbalanced ecosystem where our race as well as other living things will be destroyed. Be green!

I am in the Conservation Corps, I have planted thousands of trees and built many trails for people to enjoy so far this year. I live in the woods and I take care of it, for all of us, the animals, the earth, and my human family. = )

Well, I sponsor a little girl in Papua New Guinea and I help her and her family to survive on the little they have and send her to school. I go to protests for anti-racism and the Pauline Hanson troubles Australia is seeing. I go to protests (this is more a selfish thing) to try to stop the funds cut to the Arts in my state. These cuts will effect me and my graduating high school my TER marks will be effected and my Orchestras, music classes and lessons will cost more or will be cut and I'm trying to make a difference from those who accept their lay-offs by try to stop them. I go to protests supporting Native Title in Australia. Is that making a difference? Love, Jules

Planting trees, picking up garbage along the highway, recycling, not using so much of everything, and getting high

I'm not eating meat, wearing fur or leather Oh, and I stopped shaving my legs

I think that making a difference in our world today is a lot easier than many people seems to think. Just simply by walking up to a stranger that looks down and giving them a free, no strings attached, hug you can make a huge difference. For example, you see a guy on the street that looks upset and just plain from his 9 to 5. If you go up and hug him, he's more likely to go home and be nice to his wife. If that puts her in a good mood, maybe she's not going to be a likely to nag the kids and so then the kids can have a stress-less evening. The next day those kids might go to school and not pick on that one unpopular kid that they always seem to harass. Then that kid would go home feeling a little better about himself and so on! It just keeps on keeping on and someday that hug way-back-when is going to come back to you! If we all did something random and nice without expecting something in return, WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!!!! Barefeet and good vibes! Julie

I believe that I am making a difference in the things that I do every day. I don't pollute, I believe in conservation, I am very open-minded, I learn new things, and I take care with mother nature. By just doing the little things, we can all help a lot. Also, by realizing that we are all individuals instead of molding ourselves into the form that society wants us to be can make a big difference. I make a difference by just being myself. Peace, love, freedom, and happiness to all, Emily :]

I'm a newbie to this site, but I'm finding it quite cool. As far as what I'm doing personally to make a difference, I vowed to myself that starting this year i would speak out boldly on behalf of Cannabis. To my surprise, this "New Years resolution" has been easy to keep. I have spoken out for Hemp as Food, Fuel, Fiber , Medicine, and of course recreation. If more of us would just come "out of the closet" and profess our dismay at the current state of things, and voice our opposition to the insane and unwinnable "war on drugs" (Read war on citizens), we may really start to make a difference. Thanks for the forum, later. -- Peace, Love and The Kind. The Mystic Wolf.

I've been a vegetarian, trying to eat low on the food/energy chain for about 8 years....I'm teaching carnivores, especially overweight, sick, tired, aging ones, how to lose years and pounds, gain energy and years ahead, and use less of God's creation into the bargain, by going vegetarian / vegan. Since I'm 44 and look like a 34 year old athlete, it's not a hard sell, especially to middle aged guys who dread getting old. And these folks end up being absolute zealots for the cause...far out!!!

to make a difference in this world i have became vegetarian, don't litter or trash this earth, i pick up crap at the park where i live by. i also spread the message of safe sexx, and i don't have it to keep myself pure and innocent. i find homes for all animals that i find on the street, that is where i got my cats jerry garcia and jim morrison, and i hold meditation circles so everyone can find their true selves.

skating, thinking for myself, not watching tv, not eating meat, giving money to homeless people

I think I'm not actually "doing" anything.. I mean I'm spreading the happiness and my way of living around myself, to my friends, family, neighbors, everyone.. You can't call that "doing" anything, really. The thing is, that we can't change anything by trying to do it all alone. We have to spread the information and the way of living in peace - and affect the authority that way. Only the high bosses can really do something about the things. -------------------------------------------- Timo herd - timoherd@server.sonkajarvi.fi http://server.sonkajarvi.fi:1997/~timoherd --------------------------------------------

I try to set a good example, offer help when needed

Doing things differently. From: Peter Biggs a.k.a.- OzzyPedro, Biggsy, and Pedro. ICQ Number: 8113003 E-mail: biggsy@mindless.com My Homepage: http://www.entity.net.au/~pedro/

I quit my wage-slave job two weeks ago because the jerks were trying to force me to work 60-hour weeks through the end of September. I just got married two months ago and we're moving in 3 weeks! Plus, I just turned 40. There's far more to life than overworking yourself to death! I plan to write letters to congresspeople and to President Clinton about the insidious climate of overwork which exists in industry today. Benefits cost companies money, so they try to scrimp on hiring people by overworking the ones they have. If more of us would stand up and tell our employers "Hell NO! We won't be overworked!" it might make a difference. Tam Thompson Austin, Texas Tamth@mail.utexas.edu

I'm a fourteen year old hippy living in Connecticut and I help out on the Local Food Drive Packing boxes (in the frigid part of October) I give 10% of my cashflow to charity every year. Before or after I go to college I would like to joining the peace corps. Please look for good organizations on my web page at. . . http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Amphitheatre/2344/goodcauses.html we all need o work together to fix what we have done to this world or our greed and lust for power and "progress" will destroy us! "don't give your money, give yourself." -madhatter - madhatter55@geocities.com

making a difference... i feel that people should be not judged on their looks, religion, race, beliefs, etc. if everyone would just attempt to do this, it would make a big difference in the way our world works. this is how i am making a difference, and it feels right. we cannot change people, we have to accept them for who they are, good or bad, black or white, short or tall, because we are all one and we can all live as one by learning to accept. peace Ashley

I volunteered time at Colorado Mountain Club .

May I present my creation, the Cannabis compendium... The Pot-Smoker's Guide to the Galaxy Each one teach one.

What am I going to do to make a difference? reply; Absolutley nothing!!!! So what are you going to do about it??? ;o)

raising guide dogs for the blind

I am a member of my shul I am trying to make a difference in everyone life's with a little bit of kindness and openness that everyone seem to have forgotten along the way. I am the sisterhood president with new ideas and ways to bring new people in. There are so many ways to get back to your roots-

Just spread a little Kindness......... Peace and Love was good- Remember we had a common goal then! Stellajo

I'm a hippie from holland who's borrowed someone's computer to tell yáll I've played many songs of peace in the park today. Groovy site, man

I am raising five children. Each was adopted. Each has a unique racial heritage. Every where we go, we make a visible statement: we are one family, and we don't subscribe to racism. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Leigh Ellen Martz lellen@bellsouth.net lellen@email.unc.edu Reach me at ICQ. My number is 16041040. Instant Message me with AOL IM. My code name is begonia33.

I'm trying to make a difference by looking for the best in people. Trying not to resort to violence and giving everyone a chance. I am also trying to spread Peace everywhere I go. PEACE~pass it on~

I'm giving 25 dollars to Normal every other month I all so buy there magazine every month just to read about all the crooked cops taking bribes and all that other stuff I leave my magizines out in plain view I put them under a Bible because It says in Genesis Chapter one the 12th & 13th verses that God made all things and that they were in his likeness and he ordained them as being good The herb bearing seed and he saw that it was good. Robert Klagues Rain Forest Jewelery dklagues@aol.com

Hi! You asked "What are you doing to make a difference?" Well, I would LIKE to say I am doing wonderful activism stuff! However, I am a single divorced mom busy with College and all . . . so many others are like me. To do this, I would have to neglect my daughter. However, I do not have to just sigh and do nothing. The answer for most of us lies in all the little things we do everyday. From the smallest to the biggest, I think most of the time before I act. From re-using plastic containers to not using all those separate little plastic bags at the grocery store. But what I enjoy doing the most is being an honest good friend and person. I make a difference this way because I have friends in turn are happier and we know how much that helps everyone! So in many ways, not very obvious yet real, I am making a difference in the world. I help people when I see their need before they ask for help. I think if we did these things more consciously as a whole, we will be happier people doing happier things and creating happiness in our world! Freebird

Fighting with the government to preserve out second amendment rights.

I'm opening peoples mind to different kind of people. You see, I go to a very narrow minded school where different is bad and being a "prep" is the only way to be. I'm trying to change that way of thinking; by being my self and trying to be friends w/ EVERYONE even the preps. ****PEACE & LOVE**** --- Sunny

me? i think m making a difference by raising a family (with my wife's help of course). by raising my daughter to have good morals i think im making a difference for the future. peace out. paul "ltgunner"

I am trying to make a big difference in people's lives by making a club and letting people express what they feel about a current news article or something personal. The club has grown from 3 to 27 in a week. I have people calling in saying they have a very important topic asking if I will make a newsletter! It has also helped me feel better about myself. Peace, chrissy=]

I'm too young to MAKE a difference

To make a difference, I am going to be in a band, we are going to make lots of money, and I am going to use the money to help people who need the money more than I do! We'll also put on peace concerts.

i'm just trying not to be an asshole...it's a challenge for me, because it comes so natural... peace,

WHAT I AM DOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.. i go to church very often and when i am on line, i try and to talk to people that aren't saved and help them understand Gods love. i was talking to a guy in canada the other day and we started talking about it and he wasnt saved, so i talked to him a bit about Jesus and now he wants to become saved. wendy

I'm being the best person I can be.

I ride my bike to work at a restaurant and take all the recycling home every night.

I have become a vegetarian because all creatures deserve life, and I share my opinions. When people say what they mean, it helps everybody. Kelly Bailey

I'll tell you after I quit my job. Then every one will know.

Abstain from reality.

im making a difference in this world by staying stoned and out of it. that way, how can i cause further problems ? just relax and be peaceful. you cant go wrong. :)

I'm changing the way our school imprisons us with dress codes and punishments for living life.

To make a difference I'm asking people to express their thoughts about Peace and Love on money. Money is what everybody looks at, so write Love on it. Paint the peace sign and marijuana leaves on coins. Decorate the symbol of corruption with the symbol of love.

There are three people who were convicted of murder. Teenagers, who were convicted because they liked rock music and were interested in the occult. And based on absolutely no evidence. I am on a discussion group about this case. I write letters to networks, newspapers and such to make them aware. I post flyers locally in Hippy, rock, goth, and occult stores. And I contribute to the fund to help them out. We seem to be successful. We have gotten Court TV to do a segment on this case and 20/20 is really interested. If you want to know more about it look for the film Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robinhood Hills at video stores. And also go to http://www.wm3.org I also donate to The Toronto Humane Society. I am a Vegan and don't consume any animal products or use anything that contains them or has been tested on. I recycle, I try to use environmentally safe products etc. Anything I believe in such as Animal Rights. Human Rights. Choice of religion (for me none) Environmental Issues and even the issue of drugs. I tell people and make them aware that this is what I think, as well as keeping an open mind and listening to others. But I have no tolerance for those who choose not to keep an open mind and trash what I believe in or make jokes. Because I respect them and they insult me. "oohh miss vegan animal rights" Most of all I try to keep an open mind which is, I think the key to world peace. Neena

I SPEAK MY MIND. KNOWLEDGE WISDOM UNDERSTANDING SHARED KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO WORLDWIDE EVOLUTION THAT AND INTERRACIAL SEX, THINK ABOUT THAT.

My answer is that I try to be kind especially to the people I DON'T know. I always say if people say something alot around you, you will soon say the same thing so I try to say polite things like excuse me, yes ma'm, no sir, and I always try to say "Hello" even to the people I don't know. Well thanks for your time! Toota Loo

Well, I am not able to do a lot to make a difference. It's hard. I am just one person and one person can't do much about this. All that I can do is just to tell others to interest about this. Maybe that's all I can do, but I am sure I could do much more, but I don't know how. That's because I don't have a lot of friends who are hippies or thinking like they if you know what I mean. I just know, if all the hippies that are now in the world would be connected, maybe we could make a difference. But that is not possible, because we are from different countries and... but what am I talking.. Of course that is possible, but there is no person (is it), who would organize all the hippies together and even if it would be just one week.