April 3 - April 24, 2019

Maharsh Barot

"My mission objective is to do my part in sustaining and improving the quality of ecological systems in the world today. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
316 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

45

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

225

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

15

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Maharsh's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Start a Social Media Campaign

#6 Educating Girls

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 11:58 AM
I have noticed that people throw a lot of trash on the sidewalks, oftentimes close to garbage cans and recycling bins. I have enjoyed seeing trees and more greenery in general while walking. Things that can be improved could be more different types fo plants and grasses.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 11:20 AM
Family planning is essential in order to keep populations at a manageable level. Lack of education, lack of contraceptives, and societal pressures have caused many families in developing and least developed countries to make many children, which are difficult to support with limited resources. As the global population continues to rise, more and more competition for resources shall occur, as well as damage to the environment. Therefore, educating the masses is key to lowering this impact on the Earth.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! What's next for you?
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 11:15 AM
Next for me is to check and fix the insulation in the house, and fix any place where heat can escape. Putting plastic on the windows in the winters is also a good way to keep heat from escaping. Another step to take is to start using a clothesline, since the weather is getting better, to dry clothes, rather than using gas/electricity to do so in the dryer.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 11:04 AM
Motivations to switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles are plenty. To me, cost, features and safety are other motivations. Hybrid and electric cars are becoming more affordable to own, as well as top up on fuels. Many fuel-efficient cars are full of features. Tesla vehicles, for example, are futuristic, with features such as self-driving, touchscreen instrument panel, etc. Safety features are also paramount. All electric cars don't have combustion engines, and as a result have less moving parts that wear and tear.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 10:43 AM
By knowing the difference between these three categories, I can make more informed decisions about what I consume, how I consume it, and when I consume it. Often times, food items can be consumed even after expiration dates. Labels like "best by" and "sell by" tell that the product's prime is by this date. This makes it easier to buy items and use them by those dates, and even if I were to go past that date by a little, it is alright. Unnecessary waste should not be done.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

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?
Maharsh Barot 4/03/2019 9:29 AM
I think that it is a cultural thing, as well as a matter of availability. A lot of livestock is grown in the US, and this, combined with marketing leads many to consume a lot of meat. The fast food industry has also allowed meat to be affordable as well,allowing more people to indulge. This says that North American values are of that of fulfilling gustatory pleasures and a comfy lifestyle.

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Maharsh Barot 4/02/2019 9:33 PM
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/03/smallest-frog-species-discovered-mini-mum/
They must be protected.

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Maharsh Barot 4/02/2019 9:28 PM
Every action, no matter how small, can be helpful towards the larger goal.

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