By Melanie R Guadalaupe
Social Media Manager
If there is one thing I’ve learned at the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative; when Felix calls, you answer. You never quite know what adventure he has planned next.
You’re probably lost— let me start again. I’m Melanie, your friendly, neighborhood social media manager. Yes, I’m behind all of the fabulous posts you see on Instagram. And I’m always on the hunt for new ways to reach YOU, our community.
About a year ago, we had a lovely young man named Felix Krainer reach out to us to talk about ways we could collaborate. He’s the founder and CEO of Planet Matters, a non-profit that turns trash collecting and group clean-ups into fun community events. One of his many talents has been growing both an online and in-person community. He’s organized dozens of clean-ups across Europe and beyond, bringing people together to make environmental action social and exciting.
Last April, we partnered up to launch the SCI’s Pump for the Planet campaign on Earth Day! We had a fantastic time cleaning up the Danube’s shoreline. We created some amazing content, and Felix even spoke at our 2025 AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT. Our partnership has helped us both grow in terrific ways, and it’s been wonderful to see our hard work pay off.
Then came a new call — this time from CNN Climate, who reached out to Planet Matters to support their #CNNCallToEarthDay initiative. With this year’s motto being “Guard Your Green Space,” it was only natural that we teamed up again to show how easy it is to make a big impact, locally.
So we grabbed our gloves and headed to a beach along the Danube. A lot of really great people showed up, and we all had a fantastic time. Together, we collected 500 kilograms of waste — from plastic bottles to cigarette butts to the occasional underwear. We ended the day with some refreshments and a fantastic DJ set. There was dancing, laughter, and an overall great vibe!
This is just one example of how small actions can make a big impact. While you’re taking a stroll, you can pick up any litter you see. Or, you could even organize a day where your friends meet to collect trash together. You can even make a competition out of it, the way we did!
Honestly, it doesn’t matter how you do it or how much you do — as Arnold Schwarzenegger says, “Just do it.” Change starts with YOU. With one person, one habit, one mindset shift. It starts small, but you’ll soon see that even the smallest actions are mighty.
So get out there and GUARD YOUR GREEN SPACE. Whether that means collecting trash, planting a tree, starting a compost, or supporting local green initiatives — just take that first step.
Make sure to join in on November 6th. Sign up at cnn.com/calltoearthday and share how you’re guarding your green space.