Sarah Plaut
4/25/2018 10:26 AM
My impacts spread around the world. By consuming materials produced around the world I am harming thousands of small countries that cannot defend themselves.
Sarah Plaut
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 905 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO160minutesspent learning
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UP TO5.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO44meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO3.0conversationswith people
Sarah's actions
Food
Reduce Animal Products
#4 Plant-Rich Diet
I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
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.
Materials
Eliminate Toxic Plastics
#47 Bioplastic
I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.
Materials
Properly Dispose of Refrigerants
#1 Refrigerant Management
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.
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.
Electricity Generation
Learn More about Biomass
#34 Biomass
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
Land Use
Learn about Temperate Forests
#12 Temperate Forests
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.
Food
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
#3 Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Electricity Generation
Learn More About Geothermal Energy
#18 Geothermal
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.
Land Use
Forest-Friendly Foods 1
#5 Tropical Forests
I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.
Land Use
Advocate for Forest Protection
#38 Forest Protection
I will contact 3 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws.
Electricity Generation
Communicate With My Elected Officials
#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)
I will write or call 2 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.
Materials
Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips
#47 Bioplastic
I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodWhat 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?
Sarah Plaut 4/25/2018 9:56 AMIn order to shift away from eating so much meat in our country, production of meat must slow. If meat is available, people are going to buy it. People also must be educated about how harmful meat consumption can be. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity GenerationWhat inspires you to act on sustainable energy and other energy issues?
Sarah Plaut 4/25/2018 9:33 AMWhat inspires me is the booming technology. I know there is hope in the near future sustainable energy, as long as we take action. That is why contacting officials is so important. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsWhat concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
Sarah Plaut 4/25/2018 9:23 AMWhat concerns me most is that individuals and governments are aware of the impacts of climate change, yet chose money and success over saving the planet. Knowing that there are easy solutions, yet we are not willing to make change is concerning on a grand scale. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseAs 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?
Sarah Plaut 4/25/2018 9:17 AMTo learn that 99% of forest have been altered in some way is devastating. This fact is overwhelming. However I see hope in the fact that trees are resilient and they could recover as long as we do not continue on the path we are on today. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodNow that you know the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates, how will you view expiration dates differently?
Sarah Plaut 4/23/2018 10:06 AMMy family has a habit of throwing out food, even if it could definitely still be eaten. Now I know I can eat food that is best by a certain date after that date as long as it looks okay. Now I will encourage my family to throw out less food. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand UseHow is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
Sarah Plaut 4/23/2018 9:52 AMMy diet heavily impacts deforestation at the moment. I can consume less coffee and chocolate and items containing palm oil. However, more realistically I can make sure I buy foods made with substantially grown items. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity GenerationGeothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. What kind of investment seems most feasible for you?
Sarah Plaut 4/23/2018 9:33 AMI agree that public investment will play a huge role in building the use of geothermal energy. I also think it is important that people invest in it for personal use as well. I know from visiting a solar home it is very possible to drill on your own property and use geothermal energy. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
Sarah Plaut 4/23/2018 9:20 AMI think the R I could most use would be repurpose or reuse. I could use old clothes to make new things I can wear or hand down clothes to friends and family more often, instead of just keeping clothes that is too small in my closet. Then, others wouldn't have to buy more clothes and less resources would be used. I can also shop at more second hand stores so I don't use more resources in buying my clothes. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONMaterialsWhat single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Sarah Plaut 4/23/2018 9:17 AMI use straws very often, specifically when buying coffee and other drinks. I also use plastic coffee cups and plastic food container packages, as well as plastic baggies. Instead, I can bring my own cups to coffee places, use Tupperware instead of baggies, and refuse straws in restaurants.