If what our buddie Thomas said is true, it stands to reason that people need a good cause to choose to act.

I found a good one; maybe you’ll think so too. Here’s the scoop.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada has launched Pin it for the Planet.  It’s simple and broken down into 3 simple steps.  

1. Walk it (or bike it, bus it, board it…whatever!)
2. Track it (by telling WWF what you’ve done every day.)
3. Pin it (your car key. On your shirt. Do it) ps. Each time you report what you’ve done you are entered to win a great bike!

So that’s the breakdown, now I promised some good reasons to choose the “hard way”.

Since I work for (and believe in the importance of) a physical activity strategy let’s start there.

When you choose to drive less and employ active transportation to get around you’re incorporating physical activity into your lifestyle (which is awesome).

ParticipACTION has provided WWF with a great list of reasons, in terms of health, to Pin it for the Planet.

• Improved air quality – reduces asthma related issues
• Daily physical activity is preventative against Heart Disease and Stroke
• Stress reduction -no traffic =less stress

(Check out the list)

Need a little more?

This one will be obvious but.. the planet!

WWF is of course hoping to reduce emissions and help the planet. According to their website transportation is responsible for 27% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Eshk.. sounds like we all need to drive a lot less!

Still, even if all we can do for a start is a little that adds up to big reductions. Plus, just to be repetitive, you’ll be providing yourself the opportunity to get active.

The pinning your key to your shirt element is edgy too. It’s just like wearing a ribbon or a live strong bracelet. You’re telling the rest of the world what’s important to you, and raising awareness. (Very cool, and easy!)

Still not convinced? (even if you’re on board, keeping reading it’s good stuff )

I’ve told you about the physical activity and the environmental impact you can have, but there is one other thing that we all understand very well. Money. Consider how much you would save on gas by using “people power”  (to borrow ParticipACTION’s term).  

So a valid case?

I hope you’ll give Pinning it for the Planet a try on May 31^st – June 6^th.  The WWF website has a bunch more info, including toolkits with ideas for school, home and workplaces.

The website says “we all need to rethink our relationships with cars”.

It’s true. What is more important our health and the health our of planet and climate or driving cars?

Ps. don’t say you don’t have time!

DYK: In distances up to 5km, cycling is recognized as the fastest door to door more of transportation. —Gotcha there don’t I!

Hit the streets and let me know how it goes in the comments below!

Kenji!

Part of the contest was the opportunity for Saskatchewan’s youth to submit a blog and win a chance to be featured here on Generation Action as a guest blogger. Out of the entries (which were all fabulous, thank you so much everyone for submitting) Ogema’s own Katie Bacon was selected by the staff here at basecamp as our winner!

Congratulations to Katie on her great piece of work!

 So here is a little about Katie and her thoughts on the physical inactivity crisis, enjoy.

My name is Katie Bacon. I grew up on a farm by a small town called Ogema. I like being outdoors and doing all kinds of activities including baseball, volleyball, swimming and dance to name a few. I love being with my friends and family and having fun!
 
Thanks so much to Sask in motion for these awesome prizes!

Physical Inactivity: Who’s to blame?

I remember when I was in elementary school, we had to go outside no matter how cold it was. Before the morning bell rang at 9:00, during our 10 minute recesses, and throughout the entire lunch hour, we were kicked outside to play.

Nowadays when I visit my old school, the kids are allowed to sit in the porches because it is “too cold.”

As I watch the kids outside, they hardly play any games. My classmates and I always used to play tag, cops and robbers, boys chase girls, push down (although the teachers didn’t approve) and any other games you could think of that included running around and being active. In the summer we would get out the skipping ropes, and in the winter we would bring our sleds. Half the kids these days don’t even know all the different cool rhymes that you sing while swinging the skipping rope around and around. That was the best part of it all, teasing each other as we made up stories and rhymes about who is kissing who. Kids these days are missing out!

Also, when I was younger our town had many hockey teams, baseball teams, a figure skating club, etc. Everyone played because that is what you were expected to do. I probably didn’t even have a choice about participating when I think about it. In the summer you did baseball and swimming lessons, and in the winter you did skating and sledding. I probably didn’t want to go some days, but I did what my parents said and that was that.  I believe this is the way it should be. We weren’t allowed to sit and watch TV or play video games all day. If we did, you would hear “Get your butt off the couch and do something!” We had chores, responsibilities and hobbies that kept us busy. Kids are allowed too many choices. If they say, “But I don’t want to”, they don’t have to, which is crazy. They don’t know what is right for them when they are eight. So make them be active!

To sum it up, parents and authority figures, such as teachers and community leaders, are to blame in my opinion. I know that’s a pretty strong and harsh opinion, but it’s what I think. Kids aren’t fragile and lazy unless you mold them that way. In a way kids are babied too much. They need to toughen up and not be afraid of hurting themselves for running too fast or jumping too far. Kids need to be pushed and who knows, maybe they will find out they actually like it, or have a natural gift for a certain sport or activity. You will never know unless you make them try!

By Katie Bacon.

This will be quick. Today our S.Y.N.C with GenerationAction.ca youth (ages 13-19) contest officially kicks off!

We have 10 days of trivia for you, with a daily prize draw for your correct answer to the questions. We will be posting one trivia question a day, on one of our social media outlets. It’s up to you to find it, and then submit your correct answer to get your name into the draw for each day’s great active prize! (trust me they are good! I wish I could enter, for real!)

I will tell you where to check, we don’t want to make it too hard for you! Watch the blog (you are here, www.generationaction.ca). Watch our Facebook group Generation Action by Saskatchewan in motion, and peep our tweets on Twitter!

You can submit your daily answer by commenting on the blog, posting on Facebook, tweeting the correct answer to @Kenji22, emailing kenji@saskinmotion.ca or txting 306-550-9646! So many ways, it’s almost too easy.  

It doesn’t stop there either. Do you have something to say about physical activity, the physical inactivity crisis, or something connected to these topics? Write a blog and submit it to kenji@saskinmotion.ca. You could be selected as a guest blogger on GenerationAction.ca, this is your chance to be heard! Speak up and Act Out now.

You can submit as many complete blog posts relating to the specific topics as you want. Each complete post gets you another entry into the Grand Prize Draw for a $350.oo SportChek voucher! (Nice eh!) Plus if you are selected as the guest blogger not only will your winning post be featured there is an additional prize in it for you! (You can’t go wrong with that)

As I mentioned a second a go, even after all that opportunity to win there is a Grand Prize Draw! (I know right! more winning!) Each day you submit a correct trivia answer you get one entry into the big draw! That makes 10 chances to enter! Plus each complete blog post you submit relating to the required topic earns you that many more chances to win! Wow.

Like I said before the prizes are great, so for the next 10 days (until March 15, 2010) keep your eyes on our socail media, submit, and win!

Go!

You can check out the full contest rules at saskatchewan in motion’s website.

Good luck everyone.

Check out Generation Action by Saskatchewan in motion’s Facebook group for today’s Trivia!

Kenji