The impact of the climate crisis is more evident and unavoidable than ever, and this week’s quote from Vandana Shiva suggests how we can go about correcting our course. Tying together the experiences of Gandhi’s Salt March with the Chipko Movement, Veronica leads us in exploring the differences we can make with people power.

Key to the success of these movements is finding parts of life that are truly essential, like salt to the imperialists in India. What could be essential in our modern lives? Making a difference is not about big acts of heroism, but about waking up to our individual and collective power.

Julia Butterfly Hill provides another example of how love—in her case for the Earth and for the Redwood tree, Luna, in which she lived for two years—and commitment can fuel successful efforts to make a difference.