Ecochallenge.org

Earth Day Ecochallenge

April 1 - April 30, 2020

Ethan Olivares

FGCU Eagles

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
418 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

50

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

291

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

145

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

13

conversations

with people
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

11

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Ethan's actions

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

People

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 25 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

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

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

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

I will spend at least 10 minutes a day using the resources provided to learn about water justice and find out how I can get involved in local initiatives.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Building Resilience

Research Local Climate Issues

I will spend at least 10 minute(s) a day researching climate issues or climate solutions in my local area and share with others through my team feed, social media, or conversations with my peers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research Benefits of Biodiversity

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how biodiversity positively impacts our world and how the loss of biodiversity harms it.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

People

Connect While Social Distancing

I will connect with at least 6 person/people a day through phone call or video chat to support mine and other’s mental and emotional health during this challenging time.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Wildlife

Research a Wild Animal

I will spend at least 30 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

People

Earth Day Action: Share Eco Tips

Through social media or on the Earth Day Ecochallenge feed, I will share my favorite environmentally friendly habit with my friends, even if it’s not an Earth Day action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Oceans

Advocate For More Packaging Options

Plastic packaging can clog our water ways and the stomachs of sea creatures. I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

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

Fresh Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

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
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?

Ethan Olivares 4/27/2020 6:57 PM

One extremely important way that oceans support life on Earth is oxygen. Oceans produce over half of the world's oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Almost every organism on land needs oxygen to live, so without the ocean, Earth would probably not be able to support half of the life on it right now. We can help take care of our oceans by reducing fishing. Fishing kills a lot of important animals, and many times fishermen use nets and other things that end up becoming trash inside the water. By reducing fishing, we can keep oceans safer and cleaner.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Fresh Water Eco-friendly Gardening

What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

Ethan Olivares 4/27/2020 6:50 PM

The most prominent water concerns in my area is pollution and access. With natural disasters like Hurricane Irma and the Caloosahatchee algae bloom, there is concern that our water could become dangerous to drink. And with all the pollution occurring, we are worried that it will affect our access to clean water. Thankfully, so far the Fort Myers water is safe to drink and use. But if natural disasters keep happening, it might change.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Oceans Advocate For More Packaging Options

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Ethan Olivares 4/27/2020 6:43 PM

What concerns me most about how we are affecting the planet is how we are endangering other species. Because of hunting and fishing, deforestation, land and water pollution, and many other factors, many species are endangered, with some right on the brink of extinction. In Florida, we have very few panthers left. And there are only 2 northern white rhinos left and they are females. Some species like tigers and blue macaws only exist in captivity in certain places of the world. There are more tigers in captivity in the U.S alone than in the wilds of the whole world. If we don't change our ways, many beloved animals will disappear from the planet and will only exist in pictures and stories.

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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?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 11:15 AM

It helps me to make better decisions because I will know not to continue using it after a certain date. It will be best for me to eat or drink the product long before the expiration date. And if there is anything left after the expiration date, I know to dispose of it because eating or drinking it will be dangerous and unhealthy.

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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?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 11:12 AM

I think that people in richer countries eat more meat because they have far more easy access to livestock and to hunting animals. People in poorer countries do not have easy access to all of that, so they must survive by growing crops and eating plants and fruits form the environment. Much of the meat we eat come from cattle. And cattle burps emit a powerful greenhouse gas called methane. Methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So 20 cows can cause more global warming than 50 cars.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate Stay on the Ground

What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 11:04 AM

I've never really liked traveling in an airplane. I would have to drive 1000 miles by car but that would use up a lot less gas than an airplane would. I'm hoping to avoid taking long vacations and if I have to, I will use a car to get there instead of the plane.

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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?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 10:57 AM

I think that my diet falls within the guidelines. The only seafood that I really like eating is shrimp and I make sure not to eat too much. My seafood diet is healthy for both me and the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
People Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 10:43 AM

Litter makes our beautiful communities dirty and unhealthy. By picking it up, I feel more connected to my community because I am helping it to stay clean and healthy. I feel it as I pick up the litter and throw it away in the garbage. It's like the earth is thanking me for helping it. I am going to help keep my community clean and healthy and the community will in return make sure that I have a healthy life.

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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!

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 10:39 AM

I love our planet. Earth is a beautiful world with so much to offer. I am grateful to Earth for all the water it has. Without that water, we would not be able to survive. And I am also grateful to Earth for all the animals it gave birth to. Earth would not be the same place without its beautiful animals. The animals help Earth to stay clean and healthy which in turn helps us stay clean and healthy. Earth is the only planet that can give us life. Earth, you are the greatest thing in the galaxy. Without you, life would not exist.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
People Connect While Social Distancing

How does connecting with others help your own mental and emotional health? How can it help support others?

Ethan Olivares 4/24/2020 10:27 AM

Connecting with others helps me with my mental and emotional help because it helps me to share my thoughts and feelings with other people. If I did not have anyone to talk to, I would probably go insane from the isolation. I am able to continue talking with people about everything I'm doing, whatever they are doing, and about what we like. People can go insane from isolation, so connecting with others helps their minds to stay healthy and also to feel good from talking with friends and family.

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