2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Michael Wzorek

"As a Communications and Media major, it is difficult to admit that a personal proclivity to talk around the issue, takes precedent to proactive action. Being the change requires a personal introspective analysis. Although a reduction of footprint may not stand against the overwhelming environmental threat, a set precedent will mobilize the reduction of more than just one single footprint. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
418 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

8.0

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

8.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

2.0

trees

planted
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

6.0

lightbulbs

replaced
UP TO

60

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

3.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

4.4

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

16

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill

Michael's actions

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Go get a check up

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 2 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Plant Trees

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Energy

Choose LED Bulbs

I will replace 6 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Learn More about Food Deserts

I will spend 60 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

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

COMPLETED
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

Health

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

I will spend 90 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

How can spending more time outdoors enhance your sense of place?
Michael Wzorek 10/22/2019 9:09 PM
Without mediated material, introspection and bliss can remind one of how much stress is socially assigned. Blissful moments are necessary for reorienting with priorities that may get lost amidst mediated translation.

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- Lydia Connolly 10/22/2019 9:56 PM
  Hey Michael, I completely agree that mediated material definitely has an impact on how we view the environment and our place in nature. Blissful moments are a good example of why we need to spend more time outdoors, and I think that while being in nature, we can retrospectively look at our lives and how small we are in comparison to our planet.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

What are the implications of access to nutritious food for a community?
Michael Wzorek 10/22/2019 9:08 PM
It is a misconception to assume that bad people make bad choices. Fast food is available everywhere and it may even be the supposed savior for a struggling community. Food deserts can be combatted by meal delivery services but are too expensive and require supplies that might be readily available. Local grocer markets are stores should be available to everyone.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:02 AM
  You are one heck of a thoughtful guy! Word!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

Changing lightbulbs is an excellent first step toward energy efficiency! In what other ways can you exercise your civic duty to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions?
Michael Wzorek 10/22/2019 9:05 PM
I had a box of better bulbs in my garage. My packed garage is essentially like a Polish Home Depot. Reducing the amount of leisure driving or Target runs is a great way to set a precedent of reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:03 AM
  Now I'm curious - what does a Polish Home Depot look like?
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Energy

What do you plan to do with the money you save from making more energy efficient choices?
Michael Wzorek 10/22/2019 9:02 PM
I, for sure, will not be so quick to decide on consumptive measures. I perhaps will save for more succulents or to afford a subscription for vegan meal planning.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:03 AM
  Good choices, all!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:46 PM
Two small trees directly in front of the house, triggers something amazing. I personally noticed several neighbors peering in on my work. I anticipate more trees going up around the neighborhood soon. Regardless of their awkward positioning, the tree cannot be purely envisioned in an aesthetic framework.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:05 AM
  I planted one. I watched it grow, oh so slowly, over three years in the parkway in front of my condo. I then sold my condo and have moved a single family home. I will turn it into a forest :-) I believe many trees are in our future; the momentum is gaining
  
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Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:43 PM
I have been absent from the site for quite some time. Recent events including the removal of wisdom teeth and my sister's job change have required from me a ton of communication and unexpected responsibilities. I have still been environmentally conscious. I have spent the last week turning my garden's soil. Slavoj Zizek's meditations on trash inspire me to develop ancillary art projects (that have yet to come to absolute fruition). Environmental Conservation class has required I research geo-political states and their attitudes towards ecology. I appreciate the Eco-Challenge and regret only recently updating a personal status.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:06 AM
  Wow, impressive! You are reading Zizek on trash. I am at a loss for words. Life gets in the way sometimes and I understand that. I'm glad you were eventually able to join the community.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:37 PM
I use a Brita filter. I have used one since the Eco-Challenge started. Chicago leaded piping is a major concern. Union disputes long ago have stigmatized the use of the water supply at home for more than washing dishes. It is true that the service pipes have been introduced to a calcified coating that prevents water/lead contact, but constant construction and ground penetration shakes the pipes, the coating and disrupts the preventive process. Lead-testing kits may not be accurate enough to categorize the problem. Yet, the change must be made.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:07 AM
  Might I suggest the Zero Water filter. I is far superior to the Brita and is the only filter on the market where you can put it in a pitcher that gets the lead out - hence the name, Zero Water.
  
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- Matthew Cooper 10/22/2019 8:22 AM
  Brita filters are awesome! Though I can see it might be convenient in some circumstances, I never quite understand why people drink bottled water so much. It's just as efficient and far cheaper to have one or two good reusable bottles.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?
Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:33 PM
I always keep a tote in the car, in case a momentary splurge becomes warranted. If not, I will carry my purchase within my arms. Walking out of a store with a balancing act of eggs, milk, and spinach may seem odd, but so is carrying around a thin veil of plastic that is the death sentence for a fish.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:30 PM
I was once touring the Art Institute of Chicago, when I came across a piece entitled - eviscerated corpse. The sculpture was made out of used stuffed animals and arranged in a way that encapsulated the name, albeit in a stylistic fashion. This got me interested in the awareness of trash as potential art. Philosopher Slavoj Zizek contemplates this very interest. Trash has never been trash. Abandoned temples are tourist destinations. Toxic pools make great photo ops. It appears as though landfills and donation sites become aligned with what is "unwanted." Using old papers or notes to create artifacts of personal history - intended for artistic display, is something i heavily consider doing.

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- Barbara Willard 10/28/2019 8:08 AM
  Bonus points for mentioning Zizek and applying it to an art installation at the Art Institute!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Bringing 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?
Michael Wzorek 10/21/2019 8:24 PM
I was, at one point, destined to inherit the draw under the sink, stuffed to the brim with plastic bags. The bags were amalgamated from Polish delis to grocery stores. A nice tote bag, or wooden crate could have been easily used. The Chicago bag tax had a huge influence on the familial decision to divorce from the bags. Although finance had a proactive response, it set a precedent to become more environmentally attentive.

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