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October 7 - October 28, 2020

Oregon Lawyers and Sustainability Warriors Feed

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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?


  • Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/28/2020 10:42 AM
    That was fun. I meant to check in daily, but somehow the days all seem the same lately, and I missed checking in on more than half the days of the challenge. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    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?

    Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/28/2020 10:39 AM
    Examples are Florida's "Felon Fees" and Texas' removal of all but one ballot drop in each county. What can be done? State Constitutional Amendments that apply mathematical formula to redistricting to prevent gerrymandering.

  • Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/27/2020 9:53 AM
    I do these things that I have chosen (reusable mugs, reusable water bottle, reusable bags, reduce waste, compost food scraps, etc) every day. The hardest part of the eco challenge was remembering to check in and mark off that I had done those things!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Energy Choose LED Bulbs
    Switching out your lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?

    Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/27/2020 9:48 AM
    Done!

    I finally found a color of LED lighting that was not too harsh, and replaced the lightbulb in my table lamps throughout my home and office.
  • 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?

    Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/27/2020 9:43 AM
    I watched two TED talks: "We need to talk about an injustice" (2012) and "The fight for civil rights and freedom" (2020), as well as the HBO special about Bryan Stevenson "True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality."

    The last movie I watched in an actual theater was Just Mercy." With Black Lives Matter protesters being attached by police in Portland and so many other cities in America, and the pandemic killing disproportionate numbers of people of color because of historic issues of economy, housing, health care, and the disproportionate number of people of color filling jobs that cannot be done from home, race issues are front and center.  And all those issues are impacting (and impacted by) continued attempts at disenfranchisement of black and brown voting. 

    Reparations? yes.
    Justice? long overdue.
  • 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?

    Rachel Melissa's avatar
    Rachel Melissa 10/19/2020 2:22 PM
    Through watching "I Am Not Your Negro," I learned how instrumental James Baldwin was (and still is, through his legacy) in bringing attention to racial injustices during the 1960s onward.  Much of the discussion we're having in 2020 was identified and articulated by Baldwin more than 40 years ago. The same problems with racial injustice and rampant systemic racism endure to this day.   

  • Rachel Melissa's avatar
    Rachel Melissa 10/15/2020 2:01 PM
    The "needs vs. wants" challenge is hard.  I can't help but find things in my daily life that could use improvement, which usually means buying/acquiring an item.  Generally I try to maintain a "one in, one out" approach to maintain simplicity -- if I bring something new into the house, I get rid of a similar item if I have one.   Right now I'm wanting a non-stick fry pan -- my stainless steel and cast iron pans are just not cutting it.  Do I need this?  No.  Would it make my life easier?  Yes.  But I'm holding off for now.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Simplicity Needs Vs. Wants
    How is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?

    Rachel Melissa's avatar
    Rachel Melissa 10/13/2020 2:55 PM
    Using items you already own to meet your needs requires a creative approach.  For example, my desk chair has not been comfortable.  I could buy a new chair, but instead I will put an extra pillow on it to add some comfort.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health Exercise Daily
    How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

    Rachel Melissa's avatar
    Rachel Melissa 10/13/2020 2:49 PM
    Walking and hiking with friends & family is a great way to spend time with loved ones in a healthy way, and also a good option during Covid!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Compost Food Waste
    New to composting? Be sure to check out the action resource links to learn tips and more about it. As you transition from throwing food away to composting, what do you notice about how much you are tossing? How will you use your compost once it is ready?

    Kim Sherman's avatar
    Kim Sherman 10/10/2020 11:35 AM
    I share a house with two housemates. We use compostable bags for our trash, have committed to buy products in glass or cardboard containers and avoid products in plastic containers, re-use plastic tubs (yogurt, etc), and compost food scraps. We fill our food compost bin every two days or so, and compost those scraps in a back yard composter. I allow my neighbors to use my large bin provided by my rubbish collection service for yard waste for their overflow yard waste.