Gwen Hanson

Citizens Climate Lobby

"Create the political will for a livable world and achieve personal and political breakthroughs. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
115 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

4.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Gwen's actions

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will buy from organic and local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transport

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 some other small improvement.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Keep Track of Wasted Food

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 4 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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?

Gwen Hanson 4/15/2018 7:09 AM

This one is easy for me since I've been enjoying a whole food plant based diet since Feb 13th 2015 when I watched Forks over Knives. If you haven't seen this movie and you care about your health, I highly recommend it!

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Gwen Hanson 4/15/2018 7:08 AM

I have not been actually logging wasted food but I am thinking about it more. We have finished up food that was perfectly fine but might have gone to waste before. Also, I've simply been shopping less often. You get creative when you need to cook with ingredients already in your kitchen.

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Gwen Hanson 4/15/2018 7:06 AM

I treated a party of seven to dinner at "Harvest Beat" where everything on the menu whole food plant based, none is soy and everything is locally sourced from small farmers and gatherers. We loved the dinner.

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- Liz Zavodsky (EcoChallenge Staff) 4/15/2018 10:22 AM
  
  That is SO FUN! Were some in your dinner party meat eaters typically? How great to involve others in your actions.
  
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Gwen Hanson 3/19/2018 8:10 PM

I joined the challenge because I LOVE the book Drawdown. Even though the team purposefully made conservative estimates for each solution, they've found a way that we can bring CO2 under 350 PPM. For example, walkability and bikability only have to increase about 5% for those solutions to contribute their piece. I want individuals, institutions, and nations to sign on the optimism, practicality, and science based goals seen in this book. I also love to feel closer with all the Citizens Climate Lobby volunteers around the country. This allows us to connect in between national conferences. So far, I've only gotten credit for actions I've been doing for years. I hope to add new challenges to minimize my carbon footprint. But I have to visit my parents in Florida and I love living in Seattle.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Support Nutrient Management

How does environmental quality influence your sense of community?

Gwen Hanson 3/19/2018 8:05 PM

The minute I arrive on a trail that's protected from cars, I'm relieved. I no longer have to assume that every car might accidentally smash into me. I can let my mind wander and enjoy the birds and trees. If I see a pedestrian, I slow my bike and say hi. I feel kinship with other bikers.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Keep Track of Wasted Food

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?

Gwen Hanson 3/19/2018 8:02 PM

If I had an extra $1500, I'd most likely donate it to Citizens Climate Lobby. My husband would buy some nice clothes. Both are way better than throwing it in the compost bin!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than other countries, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?

Gwen Hanson 3/19/2018 8:00 PM

Advertising machinery in our country is pervasive because the food industry sits at the table of the NIH and the FDA. They put milk and meat into the schools. They've tainted the governments and dietitians nutrition statements. They've successfully disseminated the misinformation that we need lots of "protein" and that "protein is practically synonymous with meat and dairy." They sued Oprah when she said we shouldn't eat hamburgers and they tried to strip T. Colin Campbell of his power and position when he spoke forcefully against the consumption of animals in the China Study.

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