2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Karolina Biernat

"I've been reducing plastic in my life for years now but I intend to do that even more and eventually end up with not using it at all. I care about our Planet, environment, animals, and people. It makes me angry when I see how (still) many people disregard climate change and believe it's some sort of a myth. What makes me even angrier, however, is how people always tend to choose comfort over the environment and a general well-being of Earth - I observe that every single day. I'm on the mission to educate myself and others (if I can) to make our lives more meaningful, healthier, happier, and more enviromentally friendly, including the clothes we buy/wear (which is another area where I intend to do some research in). K."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
832 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

4.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

404

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

3.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

540

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1,000

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

1,000

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

31

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

48

more servings

of fruits and vegetables

Karolina's actions

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

Do at Home

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

Do at Home

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

Do at Home

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Learn About Constructive Communication

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minute(s) learning about constructive communication.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Forgiveness

Do at Home

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Core Values

Do at Home

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

WATCH 5 DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

My goal is to understand the climate change more & learn about different ways I can help our Planet. I want to be more knowledgeable in this topic to be able to tell others about it and motivate them to do their part as well.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Do at Home

I will spend 120 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

Do at Home

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

Do at Home

I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Calculate the Carbon Footprint of my Household

Do at Home

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Reduce Refined Sugar

Do at Home

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Know My Health

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

More Fruits and Veggies

Do at Home

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Spend Time Outside

Do at Home

I will replace 15 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Learn About the Impact of Old Refrigerants

Do at Home

I will spend 30 minutes researching the impact of old harmful refrigerants on our environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Conserve Toilet Water

Do at Home

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

Do at Home

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Go Paperless

Do at Home

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

Do at Home

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Karolina Biernat 10/28/2020 12:45 AM

Hi all!
I hope you've all been enjoying the challenge and that you will continue to help our Planet after it's done too! :)
I've been doing many of those things for years but some actions here have made me more observant and conscious of some things. I'm really glad the challenge was organised!

All the best,
K.

Read More
Karolina Biernat 10/27/2020 2:59 PM

Support Polish women and our rights (human rights!).
Please read, share, and support. We seem to be living the life of the characters from The Handmaid's Tale...
Read HERE.

Read More
Karolina Biernat 10/27/2020 4:52 AM

“Here we are, the most clever species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we have?”
– Jane Goodall

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

How is equality for trans, femme, and nonbinary people important to a just and sustainable society?

Karolina Biernat 10/27/2020 4:47 AM

First of all, I think that we should all follow the saying 'Live and let live'.
Everyone has the right to live as he/she/they want and it is not our business how they do it (unless, of course, it can be deadly for instance).
In a perfect world where every person is equal, there would automatically be no violence, more love and compassion and we, as human beings, and our Planet would profit from it.
I know that such world does not exist and probably never will, but we can make sure that we do our part to at least come close to that.
When people feel loved and supported, their growth is better, faster and way more positive what then has an impact on others around them.
It does look like a pretty picture, doesn't it?
But then you blink...

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

Karolina Biernat 10/26/2020 3:10 PM

I could try making new clothes from my old clothes, or my mum would, as I am useless at that ;) I do go to second-hands every now and then to avoid overbuying, but I also haven't been clothes shopping for a year or so. I like to think my shopping more thoroughly now and before I buy something, I think about it for a month or two to see if I really need it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Try a New Way to Prep

Canning and pickling food is a great way to have delicious summer fruits and vegetables all year round. Just make sure to follow the canning and pickling guidelines from the USDA or another trusted source. What are some foods that you would like to preserve and enjoy later in the year?

Karolina Biernat 10/26/2020 9:27 AM

Definitely strawberries and raspberries! They are the definition of summer! Well, all the berries basically ;)

Read More
Karolina Biernat 10/26/2020 12:38 AM

How to be More Sustainable - read HERE.
Have a nice Monday everyone! :)

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health More Fruits and Veggies

How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?

Karolina Biernat 10/25/2020 5:00 AM

First of all, fruit and vegetables contain lots of fiber, which keeps you full longer, like eating oatmeal. They are full of nutrients a vitamins. Eating more fruit & veggies is also conducive to being more zero/less-waste.
Eating less meat is better for our skin and it also helps decrease the CO2 emissions as well as the horror the animals have to go through when being killed. There has already been quite a drop in the numbers of kg of meat eaten around the world, especially Europe. We are given more and more alternatives like plant-based diary, milk, meat.
I like the direction it's going in but there's still lots to do/change/learn.

Read More
- Karolina Biernat 10/25/2020 5:01 AM
  
  We are also way healthier when eating more fruit and veggies, we have more energy and better mood!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Spend Time Outside

Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

Karolina Biernat 10/25/2020 4:41 AM

I think that spending time outside is quite essential to our well-being. Being close to nature makes me notice things that are bigger than us, it makes me relaxed, happy and refreshed.
I cannot imagine not going out there for my daily dose of fresh air! I love spending time in forests, by the seaside, or just out riding my bike.
I recommend that to everyone!

Read More
Karolina Biernat 10/24/2020 3:54 PM

Hi all! How is the challenge going? I've already made some changes and watched some documentaries :)
How about you?

Read More