Take your environmental concern to the next level – join a group creating change

For when the problem seems too big and individual efforts too small, here are three organizations making a difference locally and around the world

Using the column you're reading now, I often advocate creating positive environmental change by taking the micro-view and focusing on personal responsibility by making changes to your buying habits, your energy use and your waste production. But you can also choose to take a wider focus by demanding industry-level change from big polluters and advocating bold shifts in government policy.

Both have their drawbacks: the former can seem insignificant; the latter, insurmountable. But there is a middle ground: grassroots organization, where individuals come together to address the unique environmental challenges faced by their own communities, neighborhoods and social groups.