Saila Balasubramanian
10/16/2019 10:05 AM
I need to reduce my electricity usage - I often forget to shut down my computer at night, or turn off some lights
Saila Balasubramanian
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 572 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO18whole food mealsconsumed
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UP TO18plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO0.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO0.0donationsmade
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UP TO34plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
Saila's actions
Waste
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.
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.
Health
Know My health
I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).
Transportation
Car Share
I will sign up for a car-sharing service, or organize car sharing with my neighbors, to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road.
Energy
Donate to or Volunteer for Low-Income Solar Initiatives
Whether it's by donating or volunteering, I will research the benefits of low-income solar and find out how I can support low-income solar initiatives in my area.
Nature
Forage for My Food
I will use the 'Learn More' resources below to find where I can forage for my own food locally.
Simplicity
Needs Vs. Wants
I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.
Nature
Explore My Area
I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.
Community
Connect with a Nonprofit
I will connect with a local nonprofit, environmental or otherwise, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.
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.
Food
Whole Foods Diet
I will enjoy 1 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.
Waste
Skip the Straw
Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Nature
Join An Outdoor Project
I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.
Simplicity
Research Impact Investing
Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing and determine if it is right for me.
Health
Go get a check up
I will make an appointment for my annual physical.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWasteHow could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONWasteBringing your own bags and containers to the grocery store, and even to restaurants for leftovers, are a couple of ways to reduce your waste. What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 10:04 AMI realized I tended to snack a lot at work, which meant a lot of small bags of snacks, so I started buying snack items in larger packaging (or from bulk) and bringing it to work myself -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicityHow might impact investing help you better live your values?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 10:02 AMIt literally helps me put my money where my mouth is - if I can benefit financially while supporting a cause I care about, everyone wins! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNatureHow well do you know the area you live in? In what ways is a deep knowledge of your surroundings -- known as a 'sense of place' -- important to you?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 10:02 AMI just moved, so I don't know it very well - which has made me not feel that connected to the community yet, but I know that as I get to know it better I'll feel like I'm a part of the neighborhood :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNatureHow can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 10:01 AMBeing inside in front of our screens can make us forget where we are, so it's good to remind ourselves that there's a world outside of that, and that it matters :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealthHow do you deal with the physical and emotional stress of the big problems we face? How can you help others cope?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 10:00 AMI rely a lot on my friends to keep me sane, and I hope to do the same for them - ice cream helps as well :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 9:59 AMIt shows how a lot of issues arise out of mass producing crops instead of producing what the land has historically produced and is best suited to grow -
REFLECTION QUESTIONEnergyEquitable access, environmental justice and creating employment opportunities are just a few advantages of low-income solar programs. Can you think of other benefits that could come from initiatives like this? Which advantages of low-income solar do you find the most compelling?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 9:58 AMI think it's also good for low-income programs help show impacted communities that the rest of the community and the government are willing to invest in them -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNaturePeople are motivated to forage for many different reasons: as a source for food, a means of income, to connect with nature, to participate in cultural tradition, transmitting specific ecological knowledge, or as a means of stewarding local and native plant populations. What is your chief motivation for foraging?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 9:56 AMI think it's good to learn the skills that would help me survive off the land if I ever had to - the apocalypse scenario is unlikely, but it couldn't hurt to be ready! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportationTake a moment to think of places you frequent often (work, grocery store, natural areas). Could you choose one or two days a week to schedule driving with a friend, neighbor or co-worker to these places?
Saila Balasubramanian 10/16/2019 9:55 AMWork is a definite choice - considering how boring it is to sit through traffic and just listen to the same 10 songs over and over again, it's nice to have a companion