It’s not ok that lifestyle choices we make feed injustice, poverty and oppression. We enjoy lots of opportunity in Australia – opportunity that demands responsibility and action.
‘A Million Simple Acts’ was our 2019 campaign to take steps that change lives.
At Ordinary Heroes, we wanted to inspire more people to take action, and do small things to help make a big difference. Each month we shared five ideas and activities that anyone could do. We used the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to help us play a part in a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
Some of the Simple Acts involved finding out more about the impact of our first-world lifestyles. We learned about how extreme poverty is measured, why clean water is an equity issue, and what exploitation looks like in Australia and overseas.
Some Acts supported causes that are making a difference. We bought stationery to help disadvantaged students, and jewellery to empower vulnerable women in Asia. We campaigned for better healthcare, fairer housing, and gender equality. And we got behind Earth Hour, Australian Aid and World Food Day.
Some Acts made us do life more consciously. We shopped for ethically and locally-made products, picked up rubbish, and recycled clothes, food and books. We volunteered, celebrated our teachers and our older people, and spread intentional kindness.
We want our Simple Acts to become new habits that last. Our world needs lots of people to live differently, so that everyone can have a future to look forward to. Whoever we are, we can use our voices, our time, and our energy to make real and lasting change. Join us!
Use the table below to search for ideas and activities related to each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goal
‘A Million Simple Acts’ 2019 campaign activities
1
No poverty
Explore the Poverty clock and progress towards ending extreme poverty (Sep)
A Million Simple Acts: closer than we were…
It’s not ok that lifestyle choices we make feed injustice, poverty and oppression. We enjoy lots of opportunity in Australia – opportunity that demands responsibility and action.
‘A Million Simple Acts’ was our 2019 campaign to take steps that change lives.
At Ordinary Heroes, we wanted to inspire more people to take action, and do small things to help make a big difference. Each month we shared five ideas and activities that anyone could do. We used the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to help us play a part in a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
Some of the Simple Acts involved finding out more about the impact of our first-world lifestyles. We learned about how extreme poverty is measured, why clean water is an equity issue, and what exploitation looks like in Australia and overseas.
Some Acts supported causes that are making a difference. We bought stationery to help disadvantaged students, and jewellery to empower vulnerable women in Asia. We campaigned for better healthcare, fairer housing, and gender equality. And we got behind Earth Hour, Australian Aid and World Food Day.
Some Acts made us do life more consciously. We shopped for ethically and locally-made products, picked up rubbish, and recycled clothes, food and books. We volunteered, celebrated our teachers and our older people, and spread intentional kindness.
We want our Simple Acts to become new habits that last. Our world needs lots of people to live differently, so that everyone can have a future to look forward to. Whoever we are, we can use our voices, our time, and our energy to make real and lasting change. Join us!
Use the table below to search for ideas and activities related to each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Learn more about measures of poverty (Oct)
Learn about global progress in lifting people out of poverty (Nov)
Value your food – learn about hunger and poverty around the world (Jun)
Rescue surplus food to feed people in need (Jul)
Sign the Rubbish Campaign petition (Aug)
Campaign for universal health care (Apr)
Volunteer and feel good (May)
Celebrate teachers (Oct)
Donate school books (Nov)
Shop to empower vulnerable women and children in Asia (Apr)
Campaign for Australian Aid (May)
Learn about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) (Oct)
Twin your toilet with one in an impoverished country (Nov)
Make small changes to save energy (Apr)
Swap to renewable energy (May)
Shine a light on slavery (Feb)
Learn about labour exploitation in Australia (Mar)
Shop ethical and fairtrade (Apr)
Lend a dollar – microfinancing (May)
Ask government for more sustainable transportation (Jul)
Support clean water industries (Aug)
Make sense of inequality (Jun)
Empower women and youth in Tajikistan (Jul)
Campaign for fairer housing (Aug)
Ask ‘R U Ok?’ (Sep)
Learn about the opportunities and challenge of ageing (Oct)
Make new connections in your community (Nov)
Get a reusable coffee cup (Feb)
Fundraise through your online shopping (Feb)
Learn about textile waste and deadstock (Sep)
Support a World Food Day event (Oct)
Recycle your old socks (Nov)
Get ideas for a sustainable Christmas (Dec)
Go plastic free (Jul)
Learn about links between climate change and health (Aug)
and
15
Life on land
Buy sustainable straws (Mar)
Take the #Trashtag challenge (Apr)
Compost food waste (May)
Support good practice in orphanages (Jul)
Activities for justice – 40 Hour Famine Backpack Challenge and Ping Pong-a-Thon (Aug)