Proactives are actions anyone can do to affect anything, including ending the war in Iraq. Electing Democrats did not end the war. Protesting, whining, complaining has not done it in five years and will not in another five years. Each individual citizen must proactively take action, or engage in non-actions, not doing things. Become a proactive part of a non-violent revolution to make things right in this country again. Here are nine things anyone can do to stop the war in Iraq and improve America and the planet right now.

Use less gas. It is all about oil. I still drive a car, but I have cut my gas consumption by 25 percent over the past six months. I use my bike when I can, and have found other ways to cut down. There are endless ways to do the same. You can car pool; buy and use a motorcycle; walk more, bike more; telecommute, etc. Using less gas is a great proactive. If millions of Americans do it rigorously, lots of good things happen, long-reaching things.

Spend less. This is the opposite of what the Bush administration wants, which is to keep the economy pumping. Go the opposite way. We might as well have fun with this recession. A real slowdown in the economy has many beneficial effects, too, particularly on the environment; it is not the end of the world, or our economy. There are countless ways to spend less money.

Save money. Shoot for saving $500, $5,000, $50,000 or $500,000. If millions do this it will have a definite effect on the economy. And vastly improve your own financials. Quit buying useless crap, including four dollar coffee drinks. I am doing fine without an iPod, and saved a ton of money. Again, if millions of Americans do this, many long-reaching good things happen.

Get in good shape physically. This is good for you, the planet, and humanity. We need you healthy. It is good for your mental fitness too, your intellect, your powers of reasoning, your overall self respect and respect for all living things. We need healthy, energetic, proactive, non-violent revolutionaries.

Boycott sports. What professional athlete has spoken out against the war in Iraq? Not one. They are too concerned with their fat paychecks and endorsements. Watching them, caring about them is how they get paid. Boycott them. This is related to numbers 2 and 4. Stop living your life vicariously through these overpaid crybabies, and get into your own best shape. You win when you do. All this applies to the Olympics too: do not watch a second of this over-hyped, athlete-automaton garbage. Boycott the Olympics in every way you can, starting by not watching any of it.

Write your senators and representatives. I have always hated this and never did it. Not anymore. I have sent my federal lawmakers more than 30 letters over the past 6 months. Their offices now know exactly where this voter stands on Iraq. It felt fantastic.

Write the president. Ask/demand that Bush and Cheney resign immediately. I have sent five such letters in the past 6 months. Really vented. Felt great. Think if the White House got 50 million such letters, or 500 million, forcefully asking for/demanding resignations. Never happened before in history. Inundate the White House, really let Bush/Cheney have it, tell them what you think of them. It does not matter that they will not see the letters. It is fun. The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.

Cut your animal consumption. In half, at least, including animal product (eggs, dairy). Shoot for a totally plant-based diet. This is good for you, the environment, and helps downshift and shift the economy toward something more humane. As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be wars. I used to be the biggest carnivore on the planet. No more and I feel fantastic, never been healthier.

Take a sabbatical from pets. Stop buying and spending money on pets. Keep what pets you have now, but do not buy any more, or replace the ones you have, for one, three or five years. We spend a huge amount of money and time on pets and we need money and time to wage this non-violent revolution to get our country back. Use the money you would spend on pets in other ways that are good for humanity, the environment, our country, and the planet.