Jo Sippie-Gora

"To inspire and assist Fellowship members to reduce their personal carbon footprint and to take actions to help reduce the overall carbon (and other greenhouse gasses) that is in the atmosphere or will be released."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
476 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

60

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

155

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

275

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

465

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

33

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Jo's actions

Nature

Advocate for Green Spaces

Do at Home

I will call or write 1 public officials per day to advocate for more green spaces around my town, particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack equitable access to green spaces.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

Do at Home

I will take a 90-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

Do at Home

I will spend 20 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Research Voter Suppression

Do at Home

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Research Local Waste Sites

Do at Home

I will spend 180 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

Do at Home

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Do at Home

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Practice Gratitude for Earth

Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/29/2020 6:42 AM

Definitely agree. I consider myself very fortunate to have a built-in ability to feel gratitude for even the smallest things, and suspect that even in dire circumstances, this ability would not abandon me. But my circumstances are not dire, while many others’ are and, since I value all lives, I feel a pull to help lift all boats.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Advocate for Green Spaces

What services, benefits, or value does nature provide for you?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/29/2020 6:33 AM

Beyond measure. Services? Sunlight brings me Vitamin D. Breathing the air outdoors, where I am among so many trees, refreshes my lungs. Nature’s colors, hues, textures, sounds stimulate my soul and my spirit. For me, not being able to spend some time outdoors would be akin to imprisonment.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Go for a Daily Walk

How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/29/2020 6:27 AM

I have come to know my neighborhood so much more, especially its natural beauty, and treasure the hundreds of photos I’ve taken. I’ve identified several old, and new, invasive plants and notified neighbors via social media.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

What did you learn about racial injustice in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of sustainability?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/29/2020 6:24 AM

I have watched several documentaries and webinars about racial injustice. Learning what I have has increased my determination to empower environmental justice communities to resist policies and practices that imperil the health and well-being of the residents of those communities, and to mitigate damage already foisted upon them.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Research Voter Suppression

What are the ways in which voters are prohibited from or discouraged from voting in your region and/or state? What could be done to get rid of these barriers?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/27/2020 2:33 PM

Voter suppression is not as much of an issue in NJ as in other states. However, since elections are held on working day, some would-be voters just don't get to the polls due to conflicting responsibilities/issues e.g. childcare, eldercare, health, lack of computer (for registering) or limited ability, thinking their vote doesn't matter, etc. I would like to see easy access to mail-in ballots, as well as Election Day be declared a national holiday.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Research Local Waste Sites

In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/27/2020 2:24 PM

Hundreds of landfills and waste sites in NJ filled and closed. There aren't any in my county (Morris). In North Jersey, I know there are landfills and waste sites in Sussex and Warren County, which are rural, but they're filling up. Several more are in south Jersey. In general, these sites have been located in neighborhoods that house lower income residents and people of color.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

Jo Sippie-Gora 10/27/2020 2:10 PM

It is a permanent habit. The only time I have used bottled water has been while on travel in countries where my gastric system is not acclimated to their water.

Read More
Jo Sippie-Gora 10/24/2020 6:09 PM

I encouraged a teammate to return to composting, and offered assistance.

Read More
Jo Sippie-Gora 10/24/2020 6:08 PM

I encouraged a teammate to compost and offered to assist.

Read More
Jo Sippie-Gora 10/23/2020 8:36 AM

I learn a lot from the SSF (Security and Sustainability Forum) webinars. Yesterday's, "Steering Societies Beyond GDP to the SDGs", was superb and I highly recommend it. https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/viewRecording/4403503795593068816/5507786206508634627/josippie@gmail.com?registrantKey=7547557296517418768&type=ATTENDEEEMAILRECORDINGLINK

Read More