EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Joan Hogue

HR Climate Coolers

" If we all believed in climate change, we could save the planet "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
871 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

13

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

65

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

person

helped
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted

Joan's actions

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Choose Recycled Paper

#70 Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 13
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

Women and Girls

Fund Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Give a Microloan

#62 Women Smallholders

I will give 1 microloan(s) to women who need help starting a business.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by attending a training, workshop, or presentation.

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

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?

Joan Hogue 4/25/2019 8:24 AM

With all the great participation, it gave me hope that we truly can help this beautiful planet... and so many ways to do it!😍

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Fund Family Planning

When family planning focuses on healthcare provision and meeting the expressed needs of women, it results in empowerment, equality, and well-being, and the benefits to the planet are side effects. Why is family planning an important civil rights consideration?

Joan Hogue 4/24/2019 4:14 PM

Family planning should be available to everyone in this country regardless of who they are

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Joan Hogue 4/23/2019 5:44 PM

I knew about the Best Buy date, but had no idea how long to keep different foods in the fridge before they were unsafe. The chart showing the safe times was really interesting. For instance, I never knew you could keep eggs up to 5 weeks.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Choose Recycled Paper

Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?

Joan Hogue 4/23/2019 10:42 AM

I learned that decomposition of paper is one of the most significant sources of landfill methane. A piece of paper can be recycled 5-7 times before it's no longer viable.

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Joan Hogue 4/20/2019 5:00 PM

I am really enjoying learning of all the ways I can help our planet. I was glad to realize I had already been doing some, such as eating at least one meatless meal a day. We've recycled for years so that one was easy also. I enjoyed helping women entrepreneurs and have made a promise to myself to do this monthly. Thank you for this great learning opportunity.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

How do you address your own feelings of concern, fear or despair about climate change?

Joan Hogue 4/19/2019 9:04 AM

Seattle City Light has free pickup for older secondary fridges, such as one in a garage. 95% of the appliance is recycled, including metals, plastic, glass, oils, chemicals, ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons and mercury switches. They are sent to an energy recycling facility and only 5% ends up in a landfill. Plus you get a rebate on an energy efficient model. This is a win-win for our beautiful planet!!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Materials Recycle Everything I Can

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?

Joan Hogue 4/17/2019 4:51 AM

We have recycled for years and are very conscious of items our local recyclers will and will not take. We give good used clothes, furniture and household items to charities and women's shelters. I would really like to seek ways to repurpose everything! Plastic use has got to be reduced to a minimum.

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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?

Joan Hogue 4/17/2019 4:42 AM

I eat at least one meatless meal a day for health reasons, but I make sure I am still getting protein in that meal.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Joan Hogue 4/15/2019 5:00 AM

I would love to see communities where affordable green housing is available, great public transportation, huge public gardens utilized with composting facilities onsite. There are so many tools out there that could be used in communities, such as wind machines and solar panels for power.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?

Joan Hogue 4/14/2019 7:19 AM

I read about the Reindeer herding Sami people of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and the Arctic Circle. I first learned about them at the Nordic Heritage Museum near Seattle. They have protested fracking and oil exploration on their lands. They went to Standing Rock, along with many other indigenous peoples, to protest the oil pipeline. I bought a beautiful Sami bracelet at the museum and was pleased to find in my research today that Benedict Cumberbatch also wears one! They are a courageous people, and I applaud them for protecting what should be theirs.

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