2020 People's Ecochallenge

October 7 - October 28, 2020

Gillian Schneider

"We will help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations through activities and events that promote recycling, reduce carbon emissions, and encourage others to reduce, reuse, and recycle."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,172 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

557

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

11

hours

volunteered
UP TO

541

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

2.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted
UP TO

405

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted
UP TO

257

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

54

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Gillian's actions

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Joyful Movement

Do at Home

I will spend 15 minutes doing an activity where I'm both moving my body and enjoying myself.

COMPLETED 12
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

Community

Express My Support

Do at Home

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Plant Trees

Do at Home

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

Do at Home

I will watch 1 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

Do at Home

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

Do at Home

I will spend at least 60 minutes using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Organize a Course

Do at Home

I will organize one of Ecochallenge.org's discussion courses on food sustainability, Menu for the Future or Hungry for Change, with my family, friends, coworkers, or classmates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Do at Home

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Connect with a Nonprofit

Do at Home

I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in My Community

Do at Home

I will volunteer 5 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Happiness

Do at Home

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

Do at Home

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

Do at Home

I will spend 15 minute(s) per day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and my natural surroundings.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Do at Home

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate. I will keep 5 container(s) out of the landfill each day.

COMPLETED 15
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?

Gillian Schneider 10/28/2020 1:07 PM

Last day. I cannot believe it. Thanks for joining us on this journey! We are all in this together.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

Who is affected by polluted water or a lack of access to water in your region? How are they affected?

Gillian Schneider 10/20/2020 9:44 PM

Poorer areas and rural areas are more affected because they may not have a voice in local government, much like happened in Flint, Michigan.

Read More
Gillian Schneider 10/19/2020 12:47 PM

Not sure why I skip checking in every third day. So random. But I am still trying to be mindful every day. Keep up the great work!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Support Local Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Gillian Schneider 10/19/2020 12:46 PM

Researching pollinators helps show the structure of our food supply chain. If we do not take care of pollinators, many studies show that our ability to grow crops and eat will be diminished, and then humanity will not survive. This topic is hard to read about but important. Save the bees!

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?

Gillian Schneider 10/15/2020 6:52 PM

Watching Bryan Stevenson talk about the Equal Justice Initiative help deepen my understanding and impact of issues facing people of color in today's society. Fewer green spaces and less access to education has plagued poorer areas, which is often where minorities live. We need to work to change the status quo.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Volunteer in My Community

What is one thing you can do to help your community become more sustainable?

Gillian Schneider 10/12/2020 9:58 PM

In our area, we may recognize what can be curbside recycled and what needs specialty recycling. I took my parents' k-cups (and chip bag wrappers) to Subura for Terracycle today. I loaded 9 boxes of file folders in their van to donate to SCARCE (a wonderful resource for reusing, reducing, recycling), and scheduled for them to drop it off on Wednesday when I am working. I took styrofoam to Dart in Aurora two weeks ago. And we have separate spots for batteries, bread tags, markers, and more. Read up. Recycle. Become more sustainable.

Read More
- Kathleen Remlinger 10/15/2020 6:17 PM
  
  Thank you for the tip on Dart in Aurora. It is hard to find places for styrofoam recycling.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Plant Trees

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?

Gillian Schneider 10/10/2020 10:27 PM

The physical act of planting a tree makes me feel like I am helping "go green": I can see our human connection to something larger than myself while helping Earth. So glad to plant a white oak that I received free from our CSA last week. I also plan to get a "volunteer," a small tree from a friend's yard that he considers a weed. I will plant that in a place where it can grow fully and provide shade and shelter for wildlife and humans.

Read More
Gillian Schneider 10/10/2020 10:24 PM

I was outside for almost 7 hours today! Then I missed check-in until just after midnight. Oh, well. Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather.

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?

Gillian Schneider 10/09/2020 8:56 PM

Honestly the entire divisive political system has led to voter apathy, and I know two young people who can vote but say the will not. I hope I can encourage them and show them the value in letting their voices be heard. So many other people are silenced or prevented from voting. We need to show young people how and why--and make it easier for them to vote, not harder--no matter who they support.

Read More
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?

Gillian Schneider 10/09/2020 8:49 PM

I believe that encouraging volunteerism gives people a sense of community and a sense of something larger than themselves. That decreases ego and encourages a broader worldview. We are all in this together, and gratitude certainly helps with moral obligations.

Read More