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April 1 - April 30, 2020
Nilu Amali's avatar

Nilu Amali

Columbia Sportswear Company

"Coming together to make small changes turn into big differences."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,135 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    27
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    48
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    48
    miles
    traveled by foot
  • UP TO
    345
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    3,270
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    3,150
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    404
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Nilu's actions

Action Track: Building Resilience

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Forests

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area while following CDC guidelines for social distancing.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Support Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including monarch butterflies, to produce fruit. I will spend 30 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

People

Support A Sharing Economy

To reduce my consumption and waste and support my community, I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 0 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Fresh Water

Dishwasher Efficiency

I will scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher and only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Oceans

Smart Seafood Choices

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Spend Time Outside

I will replace 60 minute(s) each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside that follows CDC guidelines for preventing disease spread.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Use Muscle Power

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about a wild animal I find interesting, including their life cycle, habitat, ecosystem functions, and interactions with humans (if any!).

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?


  • Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/28/2020 8:58 AM
    A little sad today that this challenge will be ending soon- this has been a great tool to hold myself accountable.
  • 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?

    Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/27/2020 9:52 AM
    It helps me reduce my food waste- which is very empowering. Food expiration has always been something that's very clouded and confusing to me- but knowledge is power and by understanding when meats, veggies, and fruits truly go bad will help sustain a healthy diet and reduce the amount of food that goes into the compost bin.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Support Pollinators
    Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

    Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/27/2020 9:49 AM
    By supporting pollinators, you are inherently supporting the native biodiversity of your local ecosystem and ensuring its longevity. You uplift the animals and insects that thrive off the horticulture who then go on to uplift the reproduction of flora in the area. A positive chain reaction.

  • Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/22/2020 11:59 AM
    Ran to my local bike shop to pick up some parts! Definitely not as easy as driving, but totally worth it.

  • Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/22/2020 9:26 AM
    Hey there Columbia Team! In Celebration of Earth Day- join this awesome Earth Day Virtual Climate Justice Rally & Teach-in
    4:00 PM - 5:30 PM on Wednesday, April 22nd! 

    Link:
    bit.ly/earthdaypdx

    It's organized by Youth Environmental Justice Alliance at OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Anakbayan PDX, and Sunrise PDX. 

    During the virtual rally, you'll find:
    • A panel from OPAL's Youth Environmental Justice Alliance 
    • Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty
    • Poetry from Portland youth climate activists 
    • Exclusive Update on the Oregon Green New Deal from PCEF Coalition leaders Khanh Pham and Jose Mikalauska 
    • The importance and power of voting this year from Sunrise PDX
    • Ways to make art and take action from home

    HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE :)

  • Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/22/2020 9:08 AM
    HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE :)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Forests Explore My Area
    How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

    Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/15/2020 9:41 AM
    I feel more connected to community and place in which I live, by seeing and experiencing it. Portland feels much more important to me when I understand the history, the geology of it (I took a really fun OMSI seminar about the Gorge and Portland Area!), the ecology of it, the trails in which these things come together and the culture that surrounds these natural areas. If I didn't care about the many things that make up the place in which I live- well then I wouldn't care about Portland!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Research Benefits of Biodiversity
    How can you encourage biodiversity by your own actions?

    Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/15/2020 9:30 AM
    I can encourage biodiversity by planting native plants in my gardens, by not bringing home non native species when I travel, by keeping my home clear of insects and animals that could be potential carriers of disease (robins, mice, bats, etc.), by staying cautions when I travel to places that may have less regulations and oversight on feed lots, by not hunting the animals that are key to the ecological system (all).

  • Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/13/2020 8:58 AM
    Biked the Columbia Slough trail and up to Kelley Point Park. There are some beautiful wild flowers along the Slough near the golf course that are in perfect bloom right now!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Dishwasher Efficiency
    How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

    Nilu Amali's avatar
    Nilu Amali 4/10/2020 9:49 AM
    Research and begin implementing small changes often that become habit! I read a great article about dishwasher specific practices on Bon Appetit's sister blog, Basically: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/the-dishwashing-system