We face a vast number of problems in our communities and in our environment.

Pollution runs rampant through our global environment. The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat are all at risk. The breadth of these problems can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to begin tackling these challenges.

We have assembled this "Activist Toolkit" to enable concerned citizens to help solve environmental and other problems. You can hold your legislators accountable to their actions by letting them know that you care about their decisions. You can raise awareness and enthusiasm in your community by holding meetings and by getting your thoughts out through the media.

In a democracy, participation is essential!

Help to make the "public debate" more public and more representative. Educate yourself and others about the problems facing our society and potential solutions. The more citizens who take action, the more problems we can solve. We must all work together to effectively bring about change, and to do that, we must be aware of the resources and tools available for our use.

Included in the "Activist Toolkit" are some materials that will facilitate citizen involvement in democracy. Thanks to U.S. PIRG, the Fund for Public Interest Research and the Center for Public Interest Research for making information available for use in the Activist Toolkit.

What this kit includes:

• Working with the media, including how to write op-eds and letters-to-the-editor.
• Steps for starting and building a community group.
• Guidelines for writing to your legislators or other decision makers.
• An appendix, which includes contact information for state and federal government officials, media outlets, election offices and environmental groups.

Use these tools in order to play a greater role in our democratic system. The more citizen participation we have, the greater the odds of success in generating positive results.

The Activist Toolkit is made possible by the generous support of the Beldon Fund.