Ecochallenge.org

2018 People's Ecochallenge

October 3 - October 24, 2018

Nicholina O'Donnell

WSP USA & Friends

"Striving for improvement."

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
1,014 Total

Participant Impact

up to

18

whole food meals

consumed
up to

668

pounds of CO2

have been saved
up to

38

minutes

being mindful
up to

420

gallons of water

have been saved
up to

1.0

documentaries

watched
up to

120

minutes

spent outdoors
up to

180

minutes

spent learning

Nicholina's Actions

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

Completed
One-Time Action

Transportation

Choose a Carbon Offset

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

Completed
One-Time Action

Waste

Go Paperless

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by opting into paperless billing and ending unwanted subscriptions.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 30 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

Completed
One-Time Action

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

Completed
One-Time Action

Simplicity

Meditate

I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 2 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Avoid refined sugar

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Whole Foods Diet

I will enjoy 1 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.

COMPLETED 18
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

Health

Happiness

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 5:52 PM

I found a few one time action items to do just this afternoon for a final push. Our team is really kicking it into gear here at the end! Good work, everyone.

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Reflection Question
Transportation Choose a Carbon Offset

A round-trip flight from New York City to Los Angeles emits just over 1.5 tons of CO2—per person. That’s a lot of carbon! What can you do to reduce the number of flights you take per year?

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 5:50 PM

Seeing as how my family is pretty spread out, it would be hard to reduce the number of flights I take in a year. However, using the carbon offset option at least feels like I'm making some effort to make up for it.

Sometimes I consider taking a train, but it takes so long and costs so much more. I wish train travel were more of a real option for us here in the US.

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Reflection Question
Health Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Who is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 3:30 PM

Poor people in general, but people of color specifically, are most affected by environmental concerns both nation-wide and locally. I found it quite shocking how much racism factored in. In areas where there are people of color, organizations are simply more likely to pollute.

To tie this issue back to the lead in the water issue I learned about earlier in the challenge, one of our local issues that impacts the poor unfairly is, indeed, lead. Different neighborhoods have different mixes of water and houses built in certain times have more, as well, due to building with lead pipes. Poorer neighborhoods are more likely to have high lead levels.

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Reflection Question
Waste Go Paperless

Reducing your paper mail can be such a freeing action to take -- by reducing what is coming in, you can reduce what is going into the recycling bin too. How does it make you feel? What is the next step you will take to reduce your waste?

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 2:55 PM

I decided to see if there were any one time actions I could take that I could do this afternoon with a little free time. When I first looked at reducing paper mail, I thought, "Oh, I should say I already do that," because I do. However, then I r realized there is one catalog I do get. So, I went to cancel it directly at the company. Feeling lighter already.

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- Meghan Jones 10/24/2018 3:37 PM
  
  Nice work!
  
  Read More
Nicholina O'Donnell 10/24/2018 10:13 AM

Last day! Finish strong!

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Nicholina O'Donnell 10/23/2018 9:27 AM

Tomorrow is the last day. Let's finish strong!

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- Erin Fitzgerald (EcoChallenge staff) 10/23/2018 10:07 AM
  
  Wednesday is the last day :)
  
  Read More
Reflection Question
Health Learn More about Food Deserts

What are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/23/2018 8:58 AM

There is an serious increase in food-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Options are unhealthy food or spending exorbitant amounts of time traveling to and from grocery stores. What was surprising to me is that the solution isn't necessarily easy. Apparently, several grocery store chains have opened in food deserts and have had to close due to not meeting costs. We watched one short piece about a store chain in Philadelphia and what they're doing to make it work.

I guess it sort of makes sense that just putting in a grocery store and expecting customers doesn't just work because people are creatures of habit. If you're used to grocery shopping, you do. If you're used to fast food, that's what you go for when hungry. Making changes goes beyond availability.

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Nicholina O'Donnell 10/22/2018 2:55 PM

I'm doing my happiness challenge here today. Three things I'm grateful for are: the awesome October weather we've had so far, general support from friends and family and that my mom is vising my daughter right now.

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Nicholina O'Donnell 10/20/2018 9:39 PM

We tend to slide a bit on whole foods on the weekends. We'd still have managed sugar free, but it turned out our whole wheat buns had a little sugar. I knew to watch for that - most bread does - but I totally spaced it when I bought them.

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Reflection Question
Health Support Pollution Reduction

What environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?

Nicholina O'Donnell 10/20/2018 7:59 AM

One of the main problems with water here in Portland is lead. The issue is mostly a last mile issue. The water is fine during processing, but the run through old lead pipes makes for dangerous lead levels in much of the water that is actually consumed. Lead is partially dangerous for babies and children. If you live in Portland, you can get a free lead test kit from the city to check your tap water.

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