Dissertation Consideration

For my dissertation topic, I am reading seven books on environmental movements throughout history. The material is making me feel like the most irresponsible human being due to my lack of action. There are so many incredible people out there struggling to change the current state of the planet - I wish I was one of them.

I am trying to figure out what I can do to help. I have the intentions, but inevitably fail out of sheer laziness. I tried growing my own vegetables (they died after I stopped watering them and my evil neighbours and their cat used my planters as an ashtray/litterbox), and I'm a dietary vegan, but this just doesn't feel like enough.

As a graphic design student, I feel like I have the power to make a difference in my practice somehow. I don't believe using recycled materials is sufficient - they are simply a band-aid for a much larger problem. I wonder if I could challenge myself to endure a 365-day green warrior program with small tasks to decrease my share of environmental abuse.
Perhaps I can start by compiling a list.