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April 1 - April 30, 2020

Illinois Green Alliance Feed

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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 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?

    Liz Wimmer's avatar
    Liz Wimmer 4/30/2020 7:06 PM
    Eating meat is ingrained in our western culture. While it's what I was brought up on, I enjoy cooking, so personally I find it fun to try new recipes that don't revolve around meat and are balanced with other foods that make me feel healthier and are better for the planet, too.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    People Spend Time Outside
    Rachel Carson said that we need the beauty and mysteries of the natural world for our spiritual and emotional development. Does that ring true for you? What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time indoors?

    Liz Wimmer's avatar
    Liz Wimmer 4/30/2020 6:56 PM
    Absolutely. During this time I have been more able to appreciate the changing of the seasons from winter to spring from bird songs to buds on trees. Watching those changes unfold has been truly beautiful and inspiring.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Building Resilience Connect While Social Distancing
    How does connecting with others help your own mental and emotional health? How can it help support others?

    Liz Wimmer's avatar
    Liz Wimmer 4/30/2020 6:49 PM
    Maintaining relationships is important now more than ever. Even though we can't be together physically, it makes me so happy to hear my family and friends over the phone or see them on the computer. It is definitely a highlight of the day, even if there isn't much new news to share. 

  • Pat Bartholomew's avatar
    Pat Bartholomew 4/30/2020 3:00 PM
    This ecochallenge stopped me from procrastinating on my walking, instead of using the car to go get the mail! Good for the planet and my health!

  • Pat Bartholomew's avatar
    Pat Bartholomew 4/30/2020 12:54 PM
    Is there some way to include the CO2 I saved by going solar? It is not showing up in my profile. Thanks!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate Local Climate Issues
    In what ways is your local community resilient to shock events like we’ve experienced recently? How could you help it become more resilient?

    Ravi Parakkat's avatar
    Ravi Parakkat 4/30/2020 12:16 PM
    I live in Oak Park and our investments in building and maintaining green ways, parks etc paid off. Social distancing forced people to walk and bicycle more during the current crisis and the community benefited from these investments.

    This crisis took us all by surprise but I believe more coordinated action to help local businesses survive/thrive was possible. I would help small local businesses with ideas to engage with the community within the constraints imposed by the crisis and organize these efforts with the help of the village. 

  • Taylor Schaub's avatar
    Taylor Schaub 4/29/2020 1:54 PM
    This challenge has been really great and I'm glad to have been a participant in it! I've made quite a few large changes to my lifestyle that I know will translate regularly after the formal challenge is over. I think composting and water conservation strategies have been my favorite and most notable strategies through the month. 

  • Pat Bartholomew's avatar
    Pat Bartholomew 4/29/2020 1:10 PM
    I installed 7.5kw of solar panels at my house in April. That will reduce over 16,000 lbs of CO2 per year over its 15 year est. life time. 

  • Albert Pope's avatar
    Albert Pope 4/29/2020 10:50 AM
    I've learned a lot, including this: https://stopmicrowaste.com/en/tenfortheocean
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Fresh Water Dishwasher Efficiency
    How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?

    Albert Pope's avatar
    Albert Pope 4/29/2020 10:38 AM
    I believe awareness and behaviors around water are the biggest impact items. One thing I often lament is the woefully inadequate storm water treatment capacity in our towns on bodies of water. We need to prioritize keeping our open water clean.