EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Brigid Pfeifer

Bardians and Our Community

"I plan to be a helpful member to my team and the environment!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
952 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

15

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

165

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

public official or leader

contacted

Brigid's actions

Electricity Generation

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Generation Solutions

I will research and tell 2 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 15 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Research Peatlands

#13 Peatlands

I will spend 5 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Local Perennial Biomass

#51 Perennial Biomass

I will spend at least 10 minutes finding out if anyone is working on perennial biomass projects in my region and how I can get involved.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

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

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Make School More Affordable

#6 Educating Girls

I will raise funds to help make school affordable for girls around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 10 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 5 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 10 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Social Justice

Express My Support

#54 Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

What inspiration and wisdom can you gather from your family, faith, or community traditions that would help you in both communicating about and addressing our most pressing energy issues?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/24/2019 8:18 PM

I guess if I’m answering this question right, I’m inspired by the activism from the Bard Office of Sustainability. There is so much information to learn and so many cool ways to experiment with how I can protect the Earth. It’s not easy but it’s good to have the information in the back of my head and it’s now starting to influence some choices that I make.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings and Cities Go for a Daily Walk

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/24/2019 8:16 PM

It’s hard to walk through a spread out campus rather than the neighborhood. However, it’s not safe to walk near where my apartment is. I did however enjoy growing closer to nature and appreciating it more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/12/2019 8:30 PM

I know I should have more of a plant based diet but I enjoy the taste of most meat. To the point where it’s often incorporated in my favorite meals. My immediate family all eat meat and I don’t like the alternative versions that vegans and vegetarians eat. However, I can focus on having a more balanced diet where it’s sometimes meat and sometimes plant based without one overruling the other.

Read More
- Laurie Husted 4/15/2019 8:46 AM
  
  If you get the chance try the impossible burger at Wild Flower cafe in redhook village. It’s still pricey but the cost should come down since Burger King is offering it. It’s made from plants and tastes like a beef burger.
  Also to your point, we can eat a little less beef and that’s a great habit for our personal health as well as the planet.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Learn about Temperate Forests

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/12/2019 8:27 PM

I’m hopeful that more and more people are getting involved. I’m just overwhelmed about honestly most things you have to do to protect the environment. Sometimes you don’t have much of a choice to do the right thing. For example, a professor might want you to hand in a ten page paper. Using more paper means more trees are destroyed. I think communities need to make a collaborative effort in protecting the environment. I like to be environmentally conscious but the influences and resources around me sometimes force me to do otherwise.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2

How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/12/2019 8:23 PM

It was pretty easy because that’s often what I do when I get these products. I just wanted to try it out even more for this challenge.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Local Perennial Biomass

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe states that "The reason we care about climate change is because it affects the people and places that we care about." What is happening (or will happen) in your area that will affect the people and places you care about?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/12/2019 8:22 PM

The climate is bizarre. It’s snows frequently from October to April. Then in April, it tends to rain. From May to September, it’s insanely hot. I would say that my community is overall environmentally friendly but for me personally, they have to make bigger recyclable bags that you use for your groceries. I usually buy a lot when I’m at the grocery store and one recyclable bag isn’t going to cut it.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Use Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/12/2019 8:18 PM

Make sure peatlands are destroyed, especially for the purpose of business infrastructure and prevent current gas emissions from destroying them as well. If you live far away, you can get involved with an organization that focuses on the issue and spread the word to your community that they should reach out to protect peatlands as well.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!

Brigid Pfeifer 4/10/2019 8:56 PM

Family planning is important because otherwise it can cause overpopulation which results in negative effects on the environment due to more wasteful resources having to be used.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/10/2019 8:55 PM

Lack of representation in politics, women in STEM, women being forced to have a certain appearance and manner, being told to stay silent in certain situations.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

Brigid Pfeifer 4/10/2019 8:52 PM

Easy. Invest in their businesses and get others to do the same. They need all of the support possible in order to find success. That being said, equal pay between genders is important. It hasn’t happened to me personally but I read a story about Mark Wahlberg being paid more than Michelle Williams for a movie and that it caused outrage in Hollywood.

Read More