Maria Spanou
"Stay curious! "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,523 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO4.0donationsmade
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UP TO53locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO72meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO1,395minutesspent exercising
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UP TO450minutesspent learning
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UP TO340minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO2.0peoplehelped
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UP TO3.3pounds of paperhave been saved
Maria's actions
Electricity
Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits
Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Local farming at Alemany Farm - San Francisco
Learn more about the community sustaining farming model of Alemany Farm in San Francisco
Health and Education
Fund Family Planning
Health and Education
I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Support Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management
I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Building With Carbon Storing Waste Products
Engineered Sinks
I will spend at least 40 minutes researching how people can build with carbon-storing materials - including agricultural byproducts - and discuss it with my peers in person or by posting to social media.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Support Local Food Systems
Plant-Rich Diets
I will source 60 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.
Land Sinks
Hear Hasten Regeneration talk about their reforestation projects
Join our GGB Getting to Know event with Hasten Regeneration, a cause focused on developing innovative Miyawaki reforestation projects around the world this Thursday, 4/8 at 9 - 9:45am PT! Hear from the founders, Sheeba Sen and Peter Coughlan talk about their inspiring journey in creating Hasten Regeneration and how you can support their reforestation projects through the GGB program. Sign up here for the link to the Zoom session! - https://guidewire.benevity.org/volunteer/204
Land Sinks
Forest-Friendly Foods 2
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will replace or remove from my current diet the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products that are known to contribute to deforestation.
Industry
Go Paperless
Recycled Paper
I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 0.11lbs (0.05kg) a day or 3.3lbs (1.6kg) a month by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.
Action Track: Climate Resilience
Learn More about Biomass
Biomass Power
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Learn about Biochar
Biochar Production
I will spend 40 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.
Transportation
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Industry
Recycle Everything I Can
Recycling
Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.
Land Sinks
Forest-Friendly Foods 1
Tropical Forest Restoration
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.
Buildings
Learn about the Legacy of Redlining
Multiple Solutions
I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.
Health and Education
Help Students Overcome Health Barriers
Health and Education
I will donate 2 Femme Kit(s) to help people who menstruate overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.
Health and Education
Connect With A Nonprofit
Health and Education
I will connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, and/or trans and nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Smart Seafood Choices
Ocean Farming
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
Buildings
Donate
Improved Clean Cookstoves
I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Eat Mindfully
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates
Reduced Food Waste
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Smaller Portions
Reduced Food Waste
I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Electricity
Watch a Video about Methane Digesters
Methane Digesters
I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).
Electricity
Calculate My Carbon Footprint
All Drawdown Solutions
I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.
Action Track: Climate Resilience
Learn about 'Green Gentrification'
Multiple Solutions
I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions
Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants
Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
I will spend 45 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land Use Reduce Animal ProductsWhy do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Maria Spanou 4/30/2021 7:27 AMThe answer is simple because the cost of producing meat products is high, hence the access remains limited to those who can afford it. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Education Fund Family PlanningWhen family planning focuses on healthcare provision and meeting the expressed needs of women, it results in empowerment, equality, and well-being, and the benefits to the planet are side effects. Why is family planning an important civil rights consideration?
Maria Spanou 4/30/2021 7:18 AMThe question itself may be already providing the answer, but as an extra example - given that high fertility rates contribute to extreme poverty - access to contraception, as part of family planning, is a big help. In many countries, especially in the ones with less recognised women/human rights mothers who have more children are much less likely to find a salaried job or even complete school.
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Maria Spanou 4/30/2021 6:44 AMI may be repeating this to all my reflection replies, but awareness-raising is what we should continue focusing on; starting from schools and aiming to combat gender stereotypes and any form of expressed violence from the very beginning, clearly defining what is considered healthy behaviour, building our communities on that basis and becoming aware of the resources to use when experiencing or observing unacceptable behaviours. Of course the justice system has a key role to play! Victims and survivors should always feel safe to turn to justice, knowing they will get the help they need, instead of deepening their traumas, seeing their perpetrators remaining unpunished for their actions...I'm afraid we're still far from that though.
Recommending Oscar winning Promising Young Woman , which is addressing gender inequality, harassment and violence against women and girls in a very intelligent and alarming way. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth and Education Connect With A NonprofitWhat are the most pressing issues for women, girls, and trans/nonbinary people in your community?
Maria Spanou 4/30/2021 6:35 AMI'd say violence and sexual harassment, as unfortunately the relevant numbers remain unchanged over time in Ireland. Even in 2020, despite the decreased overall movement and social/professional interactions, sexual harassment cases remained the same or even raised, assuming within the domestic sphere and/or online. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCoastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks Learn about BiocharCan biochar provide additional benefits besides sequestering carbon?
Maria Spanou 4/25/2021 11:55 AMYes, biochar is simultaneously providing an answer to many global issues! When it is produced, it results to clean and renewable energy as a byproduct that can help the fight against global warming. Biochar shows promise in reducing waste, too, which results to higher profitability for farmers. For example, since it decreases groundwater pollution, they spend less on water filtration. It can also be used to enrich soil (enhance its structure, increase water retention, i.e. in areas prone to drought etc) and is beneficial for composting, while preventing the loss of nutrients in the compost material. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Climate Resilience Learn More about BiomassHad you ever heard of biomass technology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share your new knowledge with your friends!
Maria Spanou 4/15/2021 12:28 PMThis has been another topic on which I was clueless and got educated about through this fantastic ecochallenge! I was positively surprised with how quickly production units can make that shift, reading for example that "poultry farms using this method of biomass could become completely energy self-sufficient within two years". Also, after reading on how coffee contributes to deforestation, it is a bit comforting to at least see these coffee-to-biofuel recycling schemes exist! -
Maria Spanou 4/14/2021 3:34 PMInteresting (exactly 1 year old) infographic on full Coronavirus's Impact on the Environment (venngage.com) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONElectricity Calculate My Carbon FootprintWhat stood out to you most about your carbon footprint? What surprised you or sparked curiosity? Where can you take most immediate action?
Maria Spanou 4/14/2021 3:28 PMStrong reality check! The one I generally feel being less under my control, is the flights' impact, as to go to my home country once per year is 4 hours flight one way and the alternatives sound extra challenging to me right now - will try to explore them though. I am very happy with our electricity provider (SSE Airtricity) of 100% green energy though! :) The most immediate and easier actions to take are around waste control and meat/dairy consumption. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land Use Support Nutrient ManagementHow does environmental quality influence your sense of community?
Maria Spanou 4/14/2021 2:31 PMSupporting local producers and entrepreneurs makes the community's foundations and bonds stronger. On top of that, sharing a common mindset and working towards the common goal of a healthier environment is incredibly fulfilling and boosts our sense of belonging! Clean environment reflects a clean mind. We are enabled to be more mindful. It leaves us the room to focus on what matters and built sustainable relationships with each other. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood, Agriculture, and Land Use Support Local Food SystemsDependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?
Maria Spanou 4/13/2021 4:10 AMThey're all inspiring, but I'd choose building resilient communities, as for me it entails a vision of a shifted mindset to apply collective, sustainable and ideally permanent solutions to food injustice. Local food systems will bring the community together, but a solid community of joined forces will bring the food systems to the next level. There is this inspiring dependency!