Ecochallenge.org and Project Drawdown

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 4 - April 25, 2018

Cheryl Bengtson

Oregon State Bar

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
617 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

90

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

person

helped
UP TO

1.0

donation

made

Cheryl's actions

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Women and Girls

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate one or more Femme Kits to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will support women-owned businesses when I shop this month.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

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 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

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

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
Cheryl Bengtson 4/16/2018 2:38 PM
Access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. Family planning is central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and it is a key factor in reducing poverty. Yet in developing regions, some 214 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities. This threatens their ability to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. United Nations Population Fund works to support family planning by: ensuring a steady, reliable supply of quality contraceptives; strengthening national health systems; advocating for policies supportive of family planning.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/16/2018 8:32 AM
Under representation of women in elected office. Emerge Oregon is working with the entire Emerge network to actively tackle the monumental problems exhibited by the under-representation of women. You don’t have to look any further than the headlines to see that we need more women at the decision making table. Not only does this under-representation present a contradiction to the principles of democracy, but women in elected office continue to demonstrate their ability to find effective solutions to the multitude of problems currently facing our country.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

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?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/11/2018 3:46 PM
By supporting women owned businesses we are increasing the economic stability of our families and communities. By women owning their own businesses they are able to create jobs, grow wealth, and give back in so many ways. They also help shape the way other young girls see themselves as they grow and develop into leaders.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/10/2018 11:33 AM
Port Orford Sustainable Seafood in southwestern Oregon left the global commodity market because of steadily reducing financial returns to develop a direct-to-consumer business model called Community Supported Fisheries. In addition to their economic survival they believe they can build a brighter future by finding more productive ways to live off their land and the sea. Members pre-pay to buy fish directly from the yearly catch and can join for an annual $15 membership. Source: https://www.posustainableseafood.com/caught-in-oregon/csf/

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Had you heard of the term silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/10/2018 11:17 AM
I had never heard of the term silvopasture before now. The biggest advantage to me as an avid hiker would be creating wildlife habitat as a result of creating more a biologically diverse system. To livestock graziers I expect it would be increasing return on investment through diversification of pastures by adding timber, improving pasture fertilization and controlling brush species that contribute to fire hazard. As a cow I'd appreciate the increased shade in my pasture from added trees.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation

Had you ever heard of biomass techonology before this? What did you learn that surprised you? Share this with your friends!
Cheryl Bengtson 4/06/2018 1:31 PM
I was aware of biomass technology before this but I wasn't aware that there were efforts to create aviation fuels out of forest reside. In 2011 two five-year projects were funded by USDA at Oregon State University to create aviation fuels of the future out of tree plantations and low-value wood products in the Pacific Northwest. Source: http://www.westernfarmpress.com/management/pacific-northwest-forests-offer-biomass-bounty

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport

How do your transportation choices affect your engagement in your community? Does your experience differ while walking, riding transit, biking or driving?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/05/2018 2:16 PM
Walking to work provides exercise, relaxation and a chance to stop and shop at local stores I'd typically drive past.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls

In what other ways could you help girls overcome health barriers to being able to attend school?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/05/2018 2:02 PM
Follow the efforts of the Global Partnership for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WASH-in-Schools) who support the common vision of a world where all children go to school and all schools provide a safe, healthy and comfortable environment where children grow, learn and thrive.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

How does environmental quality influence your sense of community?
Cheryl Bengtson 4/05/2018 1:52 PM
As an urban dweller, buying from local farmers provides an opportunity to create a bond with local farmers. It spotlights our reliance on a mutually beneficial coexistence.

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Cheryl Bengtson 4/04/2018 4:43 PM
I joined to reconnect to opportunities and information about efforts to combat global warming.

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