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October 2 - October 23, 2019
Grace Berent's avatar

Grace Berent

Green Demons

"As an individual who has had a lifelong passion for environmental conservation initiatives, I aspire to live out my environmental values while advocating for those who may not be heard."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 294 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    80
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    44
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Grace's actions

High Impact Action Track

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Health

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 2 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
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

Water

5-Minute Showers

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Visit a Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 60 minutes visiting a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Practice Gratitude for Earth

I will spend 30 minute(s) each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Enjoy the Sunrise/Sunset

I will enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Zero-Waste Cooking

I will cook 1 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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
    Energy Switch to Cold Water
    What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?

    Grace Berent's avatar
    Grace Berent 10/13/2019 4:23 PM
    Switching from washing my clothes in warm water to cold water was a simple task that saves a lot of energy. I have recently become more aware of the impact household chores can have on the environment. For this reason I have switched to plant based soaps and detergents which are better for me and the environment. That is why I will take the money which I saved from making more efficient energy choices and invent it in local organizations who are working to fight against climate change, specially environmental racism and injustice. 
  • 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?

    Grace Berent's avatar
    Grace Berent 10/10/2019 9:57 AM
    Through my own personal research on meat and dairy consumption I have gathered that richer countries eat more meat than compared to other places due to a large emphasis on a culture rooted in consumption. The meat industry has utilized a consumption culture and created an industry rooted in surplus. This largely occurs in richer cultures where the access to meat and diary is much greater than in other places. The effects of eating meat take a great toll on our planet but it also impacts other communities. Communities who rely heavily on native animals as a primary element of there culture are being exploited by richer countries. Specifically fish is being taken from the oceans surrounding island countries, who's cultures deeply depend on native resources. This action furthers the high consumption culture of richer countries while greatly damaging the ecosystems and cultures of smaller nations.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
    How does food sovereignty address the complex agrarian transition to modern food systems?

    Grace Berent's avatar
    Grace Berent 10/05/2019 10:38 AM
    Through the documentary, Regaining Food Sovereignty, I was able to gain a better understanding of the importance of food sovereignty, especially within vulnerable communities. The film centered Native American tribes in Minnesota who advocated for food sovereignty. As white settlers invaded native lands they forced indigenous peoples to accept foreign foods such as white rice and white flour. These unhealthy foods invaded there diets greatly altering the culture and health of Native Americans. The modern high consumption food system has resulted in Native communities consuming fast foods and "fry bread." Native American tribes were forced into health problems such as diabetes due to the ignorance of white settlers.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Water 5-Minute Showers
    Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

    Grace Berent's avatar
    Grace Berent 10/03/2019 10:02 AM
    While taking 5 minute showers was helpful in reducing my water footprint, I believe collecting rain water or gray water from washing dishes could be used for watering my plants. This action would save me lots of water a week. I also believe instilling a system that reduces the amount of water used my flushing my toilet would greatly help to reduce my water footprint as well. 

    • Blake Wilcox's avatar
      Blake Wilcox 10/04/2019 6:57 PM
      I think that's a great idea to water your plants with gray water! Small steps like that add up to a great overall impact.