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October 5 - October 26, 2022
Catherine Forman's avatar

Catherine Forman

SU Sustainability Warriors

"I'll try to do my best!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,496 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • UP TO
    7.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    1.0
    energy audit
    conducted
  • UP TO
    3.0
    hours
    volunteered
  • UP TO
    1,110
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    1,078
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    2,010
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen
  • UP TO
    34
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted

Catherine's actions

Cultivating Communities

Join A Neighborhood Group

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Cultivating Communities

Donate Blood

I will donate blood in my community to make sure there are adequate supplies for routine medical services and emergencies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing Food

What is My Food Supply Chain?

I will spend 60 minutes learning about my food supply chains, and complete a food waste audit.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing 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

Nourishing Food

Donate Food

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Cultivating Communities

Stay on the Ground

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. digital/virtual attendance, vacation without air travel).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Balancing Consumption

Research Impact Investing

I will spend 40 minutes learning about impact investing and/or my current investment portfolio to determine if they align with my values.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Balancing Consumption

Know My Waste & Recycling Services

I will spend 60 minutes finding out how to recycle in my region, where landfills and/or waste sites are situated in my region, and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Regenerating Nature

Complete an Energy Audit

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, work, or other shared space to identify the next steps for saving energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Regenerating Nature

Advocate for Forest Protection

I will contact 1 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests, improves their ability to sequester carbon, and supports biodiversity.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Balancing Consumption

What is Sustainable Fashion?

I will spend 60 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and adopt at least one sustainable fashion practice.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Balancing Consumption

Reduce phone usage/buy a solar power charger

I use my phone on a daily basis (hourly for work and class), and with this usage I have to plug my phone in at almost every location I go to so it doesn't die throughout my day. I will look into buying a solar powered battery/charger to reduce my energy consumption on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Enacting Equity

Support Low-Income Solar Initiatives

Whether by donating or volunteering, I will research the benefits of low-income solar and find out how I can support initiatives in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nourishing Food

Forest-Friendly Foods

I will spend 60 minutes learning about palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and other products known to contribute to deforestation, and replace or remove them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Regenerating Nature

Explore My Area

Each day, I will spend 30 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, which might include a park, water body, trail, etc.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Cultivating Communities

Practice a Sharing Economy

Each day, I will engage in a sharing economy among my family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Enacting Equity

Watch a Documentary about Racial Injustice

I will watch 3 documentaries about racism and racial injustice.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Regenerating Nature

Water bottle refill, not buy

I will use my reusable bottle instead of buying plastic bottles so I do not waste plastic and I prevent plastic it from going into the environment

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Balancing Consumption

Less Screen Time

I will replace 60 minute(s) of screen time each day with other activities.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Regenerating Nature

Use Resources for Climate Anxiety

I will spend 30 minutes each day trying out climate anxiety resources that support mental and psychological well being.

COMPLETED 22
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
    Balancing Consumption Know My Waste & Recycling Services
    What did you find surprising or hopeful in your research?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:50 AM
    In my local research I found out that SU actually donates roughly 60% of the food waste from the main dining room, and it goes to 12 pig operations. Thus decreasing what they send to the landfill and reducing the amount of feed that needs to be grown to feed the pigs. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Balancing Consumption Research Impact Investing
    After learning more about investing, how can you increase positive impacts and decrease negative impacts?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:46 AM
    After learning more about investing I have learned that if I invest in sustainable energy development the positive outcome is a reduction in greenhouse gas release. Money control actions and if more money is applied to sustainable living/projects/investment portfolios then more people will recognize the benefits and potential outcomes of actions. it reduces negative impacts, ex: fossil fueled fashion industry (specifically transport), if you invest in local businesses etc. lower fossil fuel based transports. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cultivating Communities Join A Neighborhood Group
    How can your community support inclusive decision making?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:36 AM
    So in my community we support inclusive decision making through suggestion boxes/anonymous votes. It makes sure that everyone's voice is being heard and recognized. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cultivating Communities Donate Blood
    Why do you donate blood?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:24 AM
    There are so many reasons to donate blood. The main being to preserve life. During surgery or other medical procedure individuals may need blood to preserve their life/ keep them alive. My mom is a nurse and always tells me they are having a nation wide blood shortage right now due to covid-19 and due to this more and more individual are dying.  Donating blood saves lives.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nourishing Food Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
    How does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:16 AM
    I'm not completely sure I understand this question but from what I am interpreting localized food systems have the capability to teach individuals how to sustainable grow and manage food system weather it be the 3 sisters organization of supplement retrieval and replacement or how to manage bulk crops in a sustainable and efficient way.  There are so many possibilities. Its important not to strip away the land of all its nutrients but to keep it sustainable. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nourishing Food Forest-Friendly Foods
    How did you figure out ways to remove foods that are not forest-friendly?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:10 AM
    Reduce, supplement, or not consume foods that are not forest-friendly.  I home bake a lot of my baked goods and I reduce my oil consumption by adding either apple sauce or bananas (or other fruits or veggies). Its not hard to reduce or cut out the consumption it just takes a bit of reading or recipe hunting and a majority of the time they are healthier for you.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Enacting Equity Support Low-Income Solar Initiatives
    Equitable access, environmental justice and creating employment opportunities are just a few advantages of low-income solar programs. Can you think of other benefits that could come from initiatives like this? Which advantages of low-income solar do you find the most compelling?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 8:02 AM
    The other benefits I can think of that could come from initiatives like this would be the reduction of a CO2 foot print and more education around green energy. A lot of individuals are not educated in this realm and its important to the spread the knowledge. One of the advantages to low-income solar that I find most compelling is the potential of a lower bill/cost.

  • Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/26/2022 7:55 AM
    I have to admit I wasn't expecting much to come out of this challenge but I have enjoyed my time away from technology and learning about ways to mitigate climate anxiety. I have come closer with those around me whether Its randomly talking to people while I'm walking around the FRI or main campus, Or in my suite where I have implemented a no phones at dinner or lunch policy where we just talk about out day and work on our communication skills etc. we have become closer thanks to this challenge. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Balancing Consumption What is Sustainable Fashion?
    How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/25/2022 9:14 AM
    I absolutely love thrifting and going to flea markets. I have a more vintage style and there are always ways to make something old look new whether you add a belt, cut, stitch etc. the options are endless to express yourself and your creativity. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nourishing Food Donate Food
    Why do you donate food? How does it connect to your values?

    Catherine Forman's avatar
    Catherine Forman 10/25/2022 9:12 AM
    Its important to donate food because its a basic need that everyone should have access to. This connects to my values though me believing that no matter what no one should have to go to sleep hungry.