Vani Desai

I will spend at least 2 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

I will start a recycling program at my workplace or school. If a recycling program exists, I will advocate for ways to improve and expand it.

I will spend 5 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

I will research tool libraries and other sharing economy organizations in my area and rent instead of buy next time I need something they offer.

Access to public transportation is a social justice issue! I will learn about the need for public transportation in my community and tell 5 friends or colleagues per day about the issue.

I will call or write 1 public officials per day to advocate for more green spaces around my town, particularly in neighborhoods that currently lack equitable access to green spaces.

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

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

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.

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.

A community can be brought to its knees without dependable power, often affecting the most vulnerable. I will write 5 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for a more resilient power grid (e.g. microgrids, solar+storage).

I will spend 5 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

I will use the resource links provided and spend 5 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization, and what I can do to support those that still exist.

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about systemic racism.

Greenhouse gases found in old refrigerants are up to 10,900 times more potent than carbon dioxide. I will help eliminate these gases through the purchase of offset credits to ensure we all have a planet we can thrive on.