WorldWithoutOil.Org

I was walking home about 20 blocks from the supermarket last (Kal called me with a tip on a milk shipment) when I passed by a house with a box of fresh lemons in the front yard. Propped up on the box was a handwritten sign that read "free lemons" -- nice! But even better -- there was a hand-drawn WWO symbol right next to it.




Wow.

It's one thing to come on the website and see the WWO community getting bigger every day. That feels great. But it's another thing to go out in the real world and realize that all around you there are fellow heroes walking around every day, doing their part, sending little signals to let you know they're out there.

It really knocked me out to see that sign. I'd been feeling pretty alone lately, with Evie all the way on the other side of the country. Plus, no one has come by to pick up the drop spot near my apartment yet -- every day when I walk by it, I wonder if I'm the only one out here. But a gesture like that -- sharing lemons growing in their yard -- and the drawing, it totally made my week.

And of course, it inspired a new mission.

This one is so simple.

Leave a message somewhere where other heroes might spot it -- and include a WWO symbol or "world without oil" so they know it's coming from the WWO community. 

The message can be anything -- a piece of advice, few words of optimism, an arrow pointing to a free resource, or just something to make other heroes smile during all of this madness. (We need more of that, right?)

Maybe you think no one will notice it, or know what it means. But I bet they would. Evie mailed me some stats from the Team 8TSOC site today, and it's amazing. There are heroes everywhere. All 50 United States, and literally dozens of countries, from Norway to Venezuela to Brazil to Japan to France to Iraq... and for every one person signed up as a hero, there are at least 30 more following along as you document  this oil shock. So trust me. If you make a secret sign, someone will spot it -- and it will amaze them.

(Of course, as always, send us photos and stories about what you're doing out there. There are more Carboneer Awards to pass out for the most creative secret signals.)