Ecochallenge.org

The People's Ecochallenge

October 6 - October 27, 2021

Jeffrey Giuliani

Columbia Bank

"To be mindful of how I am taking care of my body and my community."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,215 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

14

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

165

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

685

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

36

meatless or vegan meals

consumed

Jeffrey's actions

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Do at Home

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Research Voter Suppression

Do at Home

I will spend at least 15 minutes finding out what local laws, policies, and practices keep people from voting in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Support Native Communities

Do at Home

I will use the resource links provided and spend 20 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Find Local Recycling Depots

Do at Home

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Do at Home

I will spend 15 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

Do at Home

I will enjoy 4 meatless meal(s) and/or 4 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

Do at Home

I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Learn More about Food Apartheid

Do at Home

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Exercise Daily

Do at Home

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 30 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Go for a Daily Walk Outside

Do at Home

I will take a walk outside for 30 minutes each day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

Do at Home

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Calculate My Water Footprint

Do at Home

I will calculate my Water Footprint to learn about my tap water use and "virtual water" use.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Learn About Trans, Femme, and Nonbinary Experiences

Do at Home

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Core Values

Do at Home

We may find more meaning and joy in life when our actions are aligned with our personal values. I will determine what my top 3-5 core values are so that I can better align my actions with them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing and Renewal

Forgiveness

Do at Home

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

What are the ways in which voters are prohibited from or discouraged from voting in your region and/or state? What could be done to get rid of these barriers?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/27/2021 10:11 AM
I feel fortunate to live in Washington where many of the voting rights that people in other states are fighting for already exists. In Washington, we have same-day voter registration, mail-in ballots, ballot tracking, etc. And yet even a state like Washington is not immune to the bad faith efforts made by some to restrict voting rights. Although it gained little traction, multiple bills were introduced by Washington lawmakers earlier this year to curb voting rights. It goes to show that even in a relatively progressive state like WA, we need to remain vigilant to protect these rights.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal

What are your top 3-5 core values? How did you narrow it down to those as being your core values?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/27/2021 9:16 AM
I determined my top three values to be curiosity, growth, and balance. I think these actually work in harmony together, with growth at the top of a mini-pyramid. I strive to maintain balance in my life, to not spend too much time doing or thinking about one thing. Combined with a thirst for new knowledge about myself and the world I live in, these two values will eventually lead to my growth as a person. I think the actions I chose during the challenge really reflect these values.

Read More
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/27/2021 9:08 AM
I'm already considering how I can continue to track progress and keep up with daily actions past the end of the challenge. There is something very tactile and satisfying about completing an action and marking it off on the dashboard. I want to continue with my daily actions and one-time learning moments even after the challenge is over. I'm thinking a whiteboard with daily actions and check box to mark might have the same effect.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

Who is most affected by environmental degradation and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/27/2021 8:27 AM
Right now, there is a battle against the construction of a new asphalt plant near my childhood home. This plant would be just 150 feet away from the Cedar River, which provides drinking water to more than 1.4 million people in the greater Seattle area, according to a report from the Seattle Times. I fear the people affected most by this will be those living in lower-income neighborhoods nearby, who may not have the means to procure cleaner water if their main source becomes tainted.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Healing and Renewal

How has the process of forgiving, or contemplating forgiveness, benefited you?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/26/2021 10:43 PM
Life is too short to hang on to grudges. This question feels particularly important right now, as I am in the process of trying to forgive some people in my life who are not doing kind things at the moment. I don't have to condone their actions, but for my mental health, I have to work toward forgiveness. It's a work in progress.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Justice for the Whole Community

How is equality for trans, femme, and nonbinary people important to a just and sustainable society?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/26/2021 10:41 PM
The events of the last couple years have proven that society is not just for many, including the LGBTQ+ community. There is still rampant discrimination against trans, femme and nonbinary people. This will prove to be unsustainable over time.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Simplicity

Fresh air and movement are good for our entire being and can help us think more clearly and creatively. How does taking a walk each day affect yourself and/or your work?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/26/2021 1:50 PM
I have found that taking a daily walk makes me more productive throughout the day. Because I work from home most days, there are days where I may not go outside at all, particularly as the weather starts to turn poor. Making it a point of emphasis to get outside at least once per day is a great way to get away from screens, clear my mind, and take in some fresh air. I always feel ready to get back into the task at hand when I return from a walk.

Read More
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/26/2021 8:11 AM
The ecochallenge has helped me reconsider and recommit to a number of habits that I would like to continue with well past October 27. In particular, it's helped me jump-start my fitness goals. Getting in a good workout or taking a walk outside on my lunch reminded me how much better I feel mentally and physically when I am moving my body.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

What can lack of access to nutritious food affect a community? How can having access to nutritious food help a community become more resilient?
Jeffrey Giuliani 10/25/2021 3:28 PM
The activist Karen Washington shared that during her time as a physical therapist, she saw billions spent on treatment of disease rather than prevention. Access to healthy and affordable food can prevent sickness and disease occurring in low-income areas.

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Jeffrey Giuliani 10/25/2021 3:16 PM
I spent time today learning about food apartheid, and why the previously-popular "food desert" term is no longer a correct term. It implies that the areas that are defined as a "food desert" by the FDA are naturally occuring and obscures the rich food traditions of the vibrant communities, often primarily BIPOC, who live there. And when looking at an interactive "food desert" map, I found that I actually live in one! And yet, I do not want for fresh produce or food. That tells me that food apartheid goes far beyond whether you have a supermarket near your residence. As I read, solutions must address the economic disparities in areas experiencing food apartheid.

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