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April 3 - April 24, 2019
Mandy Ruest's avatar

Mandy Ruest

UUCUV Eco-Challenge Team

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,003 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    39
    locally sourced meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    39
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    85
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    581
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    tree
    planted

Mandy's actions

Land Use

Buy Bamboo

#35 Bamboo

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Plant Trees

#15 Afforestation

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Stay on the Ground

#43 Airplanes, #63 Telepresence

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

Transport

Conduct Virtual Meetings

#63 Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Local Food Systems

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will source 75 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Composting

#60 Composting, #3 Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

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?


  • Mandy Ruest's avatar
    Mandy Ruest 4/24/2019 3:26 AM
    This was an eye opening experience. With an MBA in sustainability, I've been on top of sustainable practices, but I learned some new ways to practice sustainability from this challenge. I wish I had more time to watch all the documentaries!

  • Mandy Ruest's avatar
    Mandy Ruest 4/17/2019 4:00 PM
    I've been busy today! I haven't been doing too much otherwise. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?

    Mandy Ruest's avatar
    Mandy Ruest 3/27/2019 9:59 AM
    Most people in the United States do not harvest their own food so do not consciously connect the dots between a living animal and a package of meat. Meat eating is also unfortunately tied with masculinity and manliness. Caring about another being is considered weak and too sensitive. The  People ego is too fragile to handle showing vulnerable emotions like empathy, care and love. People also enjoy the taste of meat and can't put the needs of others before their own taste buds. 
     The USDA is also literally former meat industry CEOs, so our health information gets skewed accordingly. Government subsidies are given to the meat industry so they are better able to provide meat at a lower cost than plant-based food--especially organic foods. This drives it into the food market as the main dish. Until recently, it was impossible for vegans to  order anything but garden salad at almost every restaurant. 
    Lack of empathy, tough identity, greed, finances, ignorance, and availability are why North Americans easy more meat.