Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Jon Sturm

Elanco's Healthier Planet GDoP

"Healthier Planet, Healthier Animals, Healthier Me"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,270 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

210

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

3.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

4.0

neighbors

met
UP TO

240

minutes

spent outdoors

Jon'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

Waste

Personal Waste Audit

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Express My Support

I will find out who in my state makes decisions that impact the environment and express my support for more environmental actions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Simplicity

Research Impact Investing

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing and determine if it is right for me.

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 60 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

Research My Investment Portfolio

I will find out what stocks and bonds are in my investment account portfolio to determine if they align with my values (e.g. environmental, social responsibility, community).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join my Neighborhood Association

I will join my neighborhood association or another local group of decision makers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

I will avoid buying toxic plastics - including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl - and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Needs Vs. Wants

I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Meet My Neighbors

I will meet 1 new neighbor(s) 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
Health Eliminate Toxic Plastics

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Jon Sturm 10/23/2019 5:07 PM

I did the summer plastic free challenge and it really highlighted how much waste is created and simply ends up in a landfill. I started opting for reusable packages or minimally fully recyclable ones.

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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?

Jon Sturm 10/23/2019 5:04 PM

Clean air, clean water, clean soil. While we are somewhat rural industrial air pollution as well as off the grid contamination is small. The biggest factor is the highway and vehicle traffic. Water is another consideration with farming pesticides runoff infiltration into water sources. And soil is hard in areas that are razed for housing. It used to be fertile and healthy.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health Take Control

How do environmental health, community health, and your personal health intersect?

Jon Sturm 10/23/2019 5:00 PM

My doctor and I are looking at my health data, diet, and exercise. I’m using more whole foods and less refined sugars. It’s a combination and balance.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Express My Support

What sustainability issues are most pressing or prominent where you live?

Jon Sturm 10/23/2019 4:57 PM

I contacted 3 govt officials that I hadn’t contacted since before the presidential election. These officials have either very conservative or extremely capitalist views at the expense of whatever gets in their way of making a buck. Still, I expressed the need to prioritize science and data to make decisions rather than political posturing. The biggest challenge with these fools is getting them to acknowledge science. It’s frustrating.

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- Richard Mott 10/23/2019 11:47 PM
  
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- Richard Mott 10/23/2019 11:46 PM
  
  There is a great book that demonstrates the economic benefit of nature. Best way of getting the conservation / sustainability message through to leaders in our capitalist society. "What has nature ever done for us?" by Tony Juniper.
  
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Jon Sturm 10/22/2019 12:28 PM

For those teammates who haven't been able to check-in as often as they would have liked, consider a one-time donation of $30 to EcoChallenge.org.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Needs Vs. Wants

How is creativity necessary for practicing simplicity?

Jon Sturm 10/22/2019 12:14 PM

This one was hard, but I found myself delaying gratification and making smarter choices. I never went without, and I found myself more content with what I already have.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity Research Impact Investing

How might impact investing help you better live your values?

Jon Sturm 10/22/2019 12:12 PM

I've found that you can have your cake and eat it too. If all that we care about is profit, then we will ultimately lose. We must fight against pure unfettered capitalism and be good stewards of our planet for future generations. If I make a dollar but lose my soul and sell my grandchildren out, what have I gained?

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- Emily Getty 10/23/2019 9:11 AM
  
  Jon - I've had 10% of my investments allocated to ESG funds for a couple years now. Specifically ones that are focused on women empowerment and the environment. It's an interesting space to play in.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Explore My Area

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?

Jon Sturm 10/22/2019 12:09 PM

We have lots of great outdoor spaces with trees and streams and our community is investing in walking and biking paths to connect neighborhoods and downtown. Take time to enjoy them.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Meet My Neighbors

In what ways can you create more real, face-to-face interactions with friends — or strangers — each week?

Jon Sturm 10/22/2019 11:59 AM

I'm pretty awful at getting out and meeting my neighbors. Everyone keeps to themselves. I didn't do as well as I would have liked on this particular event, but it is something that made me mindful when I do see people in my neighborhood and town to smile and engage rather than avoid eye-contact and move to the other side of the room.

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Jon Sturm 10/20/2019 9:23 AM

This challenge really is only as good as you make it. I’m going to use a quote I saw recently but forget where: we don’t need a few people doing things perfectly to save our planet, we need billions of people doing things imperfectly. Do a little more each day. Continue learning. Continue challenging yourself for continuous improvement.

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