We live in an interconnected world. Every product we own, wear, use, and consume comes to us at the end of a lengthy and intricate production process. This is true for the tap water you drink as much as it is true for the advanced piece of technology you are probably reading this on. Every production step has a direct impact on the environment, and alters the environmental ecosystem in substantial ways – hardly ever in a positive or sustainable way.

Exploitation of natural resources, manufacturing, and waste disposal, as well as energy generation, distribution and food production, comes at a price. These practices not only impact the local and larger environment, but also the communities that live in and around affected areas. The adverse effects of our global trade and lifestyle are felt most prominently by the people who can defend themselves the least, which includes the poor, the old, the very young, and the sick.

Around the world, you can find direct correlations between an unhealthy environment and issues of race, ethnicity, poverty, and education. Here, environmental issues become issues of social justice. We cannot separate the environment from the societies that live in it. That means for us at Earthforce, sustainable development is deeply connected to questions about equality and equity.

This connection between environmental issues and social justice manifests itself in different categories:

Climate change. The negative effects of rising sea levels, more severe droughts, floods, storms, and other aspects of climate change are impacting developing countries disproportionately.

Pollution. The list of the world's 10 most polluted places includes locations suffering from toxic pollution as a result of everything from e-waste to chemical weapons. Most of them are in the developing world. According to The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) a new analysis of data points to pollution as the largest factor in disease and death in the developing world. Here in the U.S., your closest Superfund site – a federal government program designed to fund the cleanup of toxic wastes – might be just a short distance away, like the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard for us in San Francisco, an area with predominantly minority populations.

Food and health. Access to clean air and water, nutritious food, and health care affects minorities and the poor in much larger numbers. News stories about contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, for example, are only pieces of a much larger picture of discrimination through resources.

Education. Education can not only be a path out of poverty, but it raises environmental awareness, understanding, and appreciation.

Working conditions. Regions with lax or non-existing labor laws and regulations are prime offenders regarding both the environment and social justice.

Just like with any other issue of social justice, any change has to start with the individual – you. The old guideline of acting locally, but thinking globally still applies, extended perhaps by getting involved nationally and regionally. Our interconnected world, the media, and the internet make it possible to make an impact even though you might be halfway across the world.

There are many ways to act now. Here are 8 to get you started:

1. Practice impact investment. Literally clean up your investment portfolio by investing more in clean energy, as well as funds and companies that support sustainable and socially responsible business practices. Learn more.

2. Support micro-lending/microcredit. Even small amounts of investments through one of many micro-lending partners can have big impacts for the recipients of these loans. Learn more.

3. Be an informed and conscientious shopper. Know where the products you buy, the food you eat, and the clothes you wear come from and how they were produced. Look for sustainable farming and production.

4. Donate to nonprofits. Consider supporting nonprofits working in your favorite areas of interest, and make use of your company's donation matching program if available.

5. Volunteer. Roll up your sleeves and help out in your community. Opportunities are limitless, and having an impact, however small, on less fortunate members of your community can be both rewarding and exciting.

6. Lobby your representatives and Congress. Stay engaged in the political process and make your voice heard.

7. Support clean technologies. It saves you money and is good for the environment. Replace old appliances with new energy efficient ones. Install solar panels on your roof. Consider an electric or hybrid car.

8. Recycle. Reduce landfill waste and be aware of recycling opportunities in your local community.

If you can think of other ways to tackle issues of sustainability and social justice, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more about how Salesforce puts our people and our planet first at www.salesforce.com/company/sustainability.

This article is part of the Earth Month series of blog posts by members of Earthforce, one of Salesforce’s employee-run Ohana groups.