A Billion Acts of Green

How would you like to win a car? Wait, let me rephrase. How would you like to win a Smart Car by pledging an "Act of Green" and sharing it with your friends via social media?

Let me explain.

I am working with the Earth Day Network (the group that organizes Earth Day every year) to do my small part in joining millions of Americans -- minus Jim Inhofe, of course -- in moving us towards a more clean, efficient and sustainable-energy economy.

Just for going to the Earth Day Network site, and doing what most readers of this blog likely already do in their own lives, pledging to perform an "Act of Green," you can win a Smart Car. This act can be almost anything to support improving our environment, from pledging to plant a tree to just washing your clothes in cold water. One of the suggested acts can be selected, or you can get all creative on us and come up with your own Act of Green.

Doing this will make you automatically eligible to win one of two available "smart fortwo" cars, as they're called. They are not only 100 percent recyclable, but are the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid gasoline-powered cars in the United States today, according to the EPA.

What I like about this contest is this puts the responsibility for creating a better society in our hands. We've all be disappointed by those in Washington who pay lip service to what many of us consider a defining issue of our time, so why not take it upon ourselves to participate in and inspire a Billion Acts of Green. Maybe those living in the Beltway will actually take notice, as We The People, take the lead.

The contest ends on December 31, 2010 and the winners will be announced on January 10, 2011. So go get yourself a car. And in the process, make this a better planet for our kids to inherit.

Follow me on Twitter @cliffschecter