Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff)

Community Team

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
832 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

200

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

61

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

348

gallons of water

have been saved

Deborah's 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

Fresh Water

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

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

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

Oceans

Learn about Our Oceans

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about how our oceans support life on Earth by producing oxygen, regulating climate, and providing habitat, food, and jobs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Research and Support Local Organizations

I will spend 30 minutes researching local organizations and businesses in my community, then support one of them by writing a testimonial or positive review, ordering curbside, making a donation to my favorite nonprofit, or supporting them in another way.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Earth Day Together!

Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

I will express my love and gratitude for our Earth by writing a love letter, poem, or song to Earth.

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
Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

How does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/28/2020 4:20 PM

Food sovereignty challenges modern food systems by valuing and empowering food providers, connecting food providers and consumers, and creating more resilience in food systems. The focus shifts from corporate and government profit to the people and communities who grow and eat the food.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Earth Day Together! Earth Day Action: Write a Love Letter, Poem, or Song to Earth

What are you grateful for about our planet? Share what you created or your general thoughts of love and gratitude with everyone else!

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/28/2020 4:05 PM

dear earth,
the heavy blooms of camellias scatter petals
and the dandelions multiply with every soft breeze.
saltwater and sand.
pollen dusts the asphalt
the sky, a deep cobalt.
i practice wonder.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Earth Day Together! Earth Day Action: Research and Support Local Organizations

Why is it important to support local organizations and businesses? How does it help to build a more resilient community?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/27/2020 3:28 PM

It's important because people in our community are those who own, run, and work for local orgs and businesses. It feeds our local economy and helps us sustain and support the resources we have for everyone in our communities, especially now, when so much traffic and revenue is low.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Oceans Smart Seafood Choices

Many states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/27/2020 1:02 PM

It's much easier to follow best practices with storebought fish because it's more obvious where and how fish were caught (with shortcuts like looking for the MSC logo). It's harder when eating at restaurants where the sourcing is much more opaque. When looking through Seafood Watch, I was surprised to find that there are no good unagi or eel options, for example. I think at home I tend to stick with sustainable options without realizing they're the most sustainable (anchovies are so great to add in a pasta dish), but sushi is where I'll need to be careful from now on!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Oceans Learn about Our Oceans

What is one way in which oceans support your life on Earth? What is one way you can help take care of ocean health with your actions?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/27/2020 12:56 PM

There are so many ways the ocean supports us — by absorbing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen, offering resources, and providing a playground for us and a home for so many species. We can take better care of the ocean by reducing the amount of plastics we use that end up in the ocean, supporting sustainable ways of fishing, and advocating for ocean health.

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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?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/20/2020 10:26 AM

Knowing the difference between the dates helps me use food beyond its peak quality and prevent food waste. I've thrown out food before thinking it was bad or unsalvageable, but many times you can also repurpose leftovers — like making bread crumbs from stale bread or roasting old vegetables. Tamar Adler touches on the flow of creating meals and moving from one meal to the next this way.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water Conserve Toilet Water

What would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/20/2020 10:20 AM

One thing that needs to change is more access to resources and tools that help us conserve and reuse water, like installing eco-friendly toilets or offering ways to reduce the costs of access. Access to clean water is often a luxury for people, and sustainability isn't only about protecting water; it's about caring for everyone in our community.

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- Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/29/2020 10:51 AM
  
  Thank you, Hanae! So illuminating.
  
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- Hanae D. 4/23/2020 2:06 PM
  
  I completely agree. Along with the toilets, a good phrase to think of is: If its yellow, let it mellow. If its brown, flush it down. In other words, be mindful of when you flush, and flushing only when appropriate. Ok, this may seem a little gross at first, but the average toilet uses 1.5 gallons of water per flush. And remember, less than 1% of the Earths water is acessible for 7 billion people to drink. Thats a lot of people, and not a lot of water.
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?

Deborah Kim (Ecochallenge.org Staff) 4/01/2020 4:26 PM

People in richer countries have more access to buy meat, both in terms of availability and in personal income. The meat supply chain is expensive and costs us deeply in terms of the environment and our health, especially when profit is the driving force. While I'm not a vegan or even a vegetarian, I'm more mindful now of these hidden costs and looking for creative ways to go meatless more often.

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