EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Mark Russell

Waiheke Island Community

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
836 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

8.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

95

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

people

helped
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Mark's actions

Land Use

Restore Wetlands

#52 Coastal Wetlands

I will volunteer 8 hours with a wetland restoration project in my region.

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

Electricity Generation

Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore), #8 Solar Farms

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 2 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

#8 Solar Farms

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Connect With A Nonprofit

#6 Educating Girls, #7 Family Planning, #62 Women Smallholders

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on womens' or girls' issues in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Test Drive an Electric Bike

#69 Electric Bikes

I will test drive an electric bike at a local distributor to see if it makes sense to use one in place of my car, or to extend the area I can cover by bike.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Improve a Bus Stop

#37 Mass Transit

I will improve a bus stop in my neighborhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement.

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?

Mark Russell 4/07/2019 12:04 PM

I've just switched my electricity supplier over to https://ecotricity.co.nz/ - if you have come across them before, check them out - they not only sell only renewably generated power, but they offset all their other activities too - office, car use, travel etc... so they are truely 100% carbon neutral. And very cool people to boot, I've met a few of them and done a talk about the climate crisis for them.

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- Linda Simpson 4/08/2019 3:46 PM
  
  I will investigate - I'd love to recycle my excess solar power more efficiently than happens at the moment!!!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Social Justice Improve a Bus Stop

How can you advocate for transportation systems which minimize environmental impact while also meeting human needs?

Mark Russell 4/06/2019 8:02 PM

Lobby for electric busses - talk to the god people at https://www.electricisland.nz/

Read More
Mark Russell 4/05/2019 6:35 PM

I'm keen to do "Improve A Bus Stop" from the Transport category of challenges. Anyone else interested? I'm going to go to Pope's Corner bus stop tomorrow (Sunday April 7th) at 11am to see what I can do - anyone keen to come along?

The challenge says "I will improve a bus stop in my neighbourhood by posting the stop schedule, adding seating or shelter, adding art or flowers, picking up litter, or implementing some other small improvement."

A bunch of those things are already done, but maybe some flowers (I have a cactus looking for a home!), and a litter tidy up would be a good start, as well as deciding what else could be done later.

I'm also going to put a poster on the inside wall, out of the weather, explaining that we have done some stuff, and that it is part of the Drawdown Ecochallenge, and telling people how they can join in if they like :)

See you at 11 if you can make it. Mark

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- Mark Russell 4/08/2019 9:09 PM
  
  And, I've been promised more cacti this weekend, so I'll bring some more along then as well.
  
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- Mark Russell 4/08/2019 9:09 PM
  
  Hi Linda, just the one person, Sue, who is in one of the photos. Plus, an hour after I did the initial work I went past the bus stop and both book I had left were gone... so, some kind of interaction happening :)
  
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- Linda Simpson 4/08/2019 3:51 PM
  
  Awesome, did any passers by stop and ask what you were doing, or help? I will bring over a companion plant!!
  
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- Mark Russell 4/06/2019 8:59 PM
  
  I forgot to post the photos earlier!
  
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- Mark Russell 4/06/2019 7:51 PM
  
  Well, OK, the job of improving the bus stop at Pope's Corner has begun.
  
  I found that it was pretty clean overall, I picked up a few booze bottles and cigarette butts but not much else. Plus, I brought a couple of books and a makeshift cardboard box bookshelf, and I'm going back this afternoon with a sign that explains the books and the Ecochallenge. And finally, I left a cactus under the lovely wooden bench there... it looks a little lonely there now, but I have a plan to bring it some friends over the next couple of weekends!
  
  It was fun to do, and I had a nice chat with local Sue, pictured, who liked the books idea and will bring something to swap the next time she is at the bus stop.
  
  So a pretty good start, and I'll claim my points with a clean conscious I reckon :)
  
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- Mark Russell 4/06/2019 2:56 PM
  
  About this, a bit of a change of plan for me today... so now I'm going to head up to the bus stop in the afternoon, from 2-2.30, that kind of time. Would still be lovely to meet others there if you are keen :)
  
  Mark
  
  Read More
Mark Russell 4/04/2019 12:03 PM

Hi everyone, I am looking at this challenge, and wondering, are there groups or organisations on the island I could look into? Thanks, Mark

"I will connect with a local nonprofit working on womens' or girls' issues in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member."

Read More