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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Betsy Eudey's avatar

Betsy Eudey

Stan State Eco Challenge Earth Month Team

"Each day do better"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,585 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    7.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    2.0
    donations
    made
  • UP TO
    2.0
    lightbulbs
    replaced
  • UP TO
    1,200
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    135
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    85
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    2.0
    people
    helped
  • UP TO
    1,191
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

Betsy's actions

Land Sinks

Buy Bamboo

Bamboo Production

When they are available, I will purchase products made from bamboo instead of wood, plastic, or metal.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Fix Leaky Faucets

Low-Flow Fixtures

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities. Fixing leaky faucets can save up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water a day or 270 (1,020 L) gallons of water a month per faucet.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

I will donate to Native American Rights Fund, which protects tribal natural resources and environmental rights and promotes Native American Human Rights.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn About Ocean Mammals

I am really concerned about the impact of rising ocean temperatures and plastics on whales, sea turtles, and other ocean mammals.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 1 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Start a Social Media Campaign

Health and Education

Through social media, I will raise awareness about gender inequity in education by sharing the information found in the links below.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Conduct Virtual Meetings

Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Use Muscle Power

Multiple Transportation Solutions

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Spread the Word about Energy Alternatives

All Electricity Solutions

I will research and tell 2 people each day about the benefits of alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar energy, geothermal energy, and methane digesters.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY 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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Advocate For More Packaging Options

Multiple Industry Solutions

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 15 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Explore Other Electricity Solutions

All Electricity Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Electricity Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Fund Family Planning

Health and Education

I will donate to supply a community with reproductive health supplies.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Keep Track of Wasted Food

Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Host a Film Screening

Health and Education

I will host a virtual film screening and discussion about women's and gender equality issues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

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?


  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/30/2021 7:02 PM
    How can this be the last day of the ecochallenge? There's still so much more to learn!!! I had a great time today sharing information with students about women and renewable energy projects - especially tied to Barefoot College's Solar Mamas program. If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend the 2013 video on Solar Mamas posted as part of Why Poverty. I also had a great day attending a Sustainability FLC meeting where we learned more about creating a Sustainability Institute on our campus (thanks to Cal State Northridge for sharing your brilliant experiences), and attending a workshop on infusing sustainability concepts into faculty development programming. What a lovely way to end the month. 

  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/29/2021 10:46 PM
    This has been a great opportunity to learn more every day, and to be more conscious of daily actions. In some ways I've learned that I'm doing some things better than I had realized (esp food waste, water use, and general consumption), but some things less well than I had hoped (carbon footprint is still worse than desired, even during the pandemic). I've loved the opportunity to learn about organizations, and get deeper understanding of issues that will help me in my teaching and daily life. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Buildings Fix Leaky Faucets
    What are other easy and low-cost ways to reduce your water usage at home?

    Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/29/2021 10:42 PM
    Always turn off water when brushing teeth or washing dishes. Limit time in the shower (perhaps shutting off the water when soaping up or washing your hair). Shower with a friend! Use a water-efficient dishwasher (which uses far less water than most use when hand-washing dishes/pots) and washing machine. Wear "clean" clothes more than once before washing - all clothes don't need to be washed after every wearing. Limit the amount of water your toilet uses in a flush. Limit/avoid water-intensive landscaping, and use sprinklers sparingly and at night or early morning so water has time to soak into the ground rather than evaporating in the heat of the day. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management
    Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?

    Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/29/2021 10:37 PM
    Nature strives for balance. Trees, plants, insects and animals respond to changes in the climate - due to fires, droughts, heavy rains, finding ways to rebuild when needed, limit growth/reproduction when not. We need to learn to do this as well, not taking more than can be replenished, and creating opportunities for repair when damage is done. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Companies Leading in Green Energy
    Every dollar you put into solar or wind is a dollar not put into traditional financial institutions. You'll also be bolstering the fossil fuel divestment movement, too. Name some companies you know that invest in green energy. How can you support them?

    Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/29/2021 10:35 PM
    It's interesting to me that some of the companies on the RE100 list aren't people that I think are doing a very good job on other social justice/environmental issues, but are moving to green energy - companies like GM, BMW, Clif Bar (that uses palm oil), Nike and many soft drink companies (Coca Cola, Starbucks, Pepsi) that are bottling water in harmful ways come to mind off of the list. Bank of America is on the list, yet invests in companies that harm the environment. There are also department stores and clothing companies (like Kohls, lululemon) that sell fast fashion and/or clothes with microfibres. It's great that they're focused on the energy issues, but they're still causing trouble in other ways. Getting a gold rating on energy can make them seem eco-conscious, even as they're doing great harm when looking at the bigger picture. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Sinks Buy Bamboo
    Are bamboo alternatives readily available in your community? If not, what are other sustainable alternatives?

    Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/29/2021 10:28 PM
    There are some bamboo products available locally, and some that can be purchased via B-Corps that are worth the effort. It's far easier to find less sustainable options, but perhaps by requesting the local stores to carry the bamboo products they may see enough demand to keep it in stock. I'd also note that I am making an effort to purchase clothing made of bamboo, not just building materials as was noted in the prompt. 

  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/28/2021 8:23 PM
    got a chance to attend part of the Climate Justice Symposium for Transforming Education today - so great to learn about collaborations and resources available in California, and to get some new ideas for improving my teaching. 

  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/27/2021 9:05 PM
    Can you believe this month is almost over? So much learned, and I'm so impressed by all the actions taken by the Stan State team!  

  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/27/2021 9:04 PM
    I've been reading student posts today in my online class addressing fast fashion and microfibers in clothing. I'm hearing lots of great commitments to cutting down on consumption, engaging more with thrift stores (donating and purchasing from), engaging in clothing exchanges, and taking more care washing and wearing products with microfibers. It's so great to see how all of these small changes can add up to social transformations. 

  • Betsy Eudey's avatar
    Betsy Eudey 4/26/2021 10:47 PM
    Such a beautiful day after the rain over the weekend. Finally more blooms and a freshness to the air. I'm trying to enjoy these clean-air days, as I expect a very smoky summer from too little water and people accidentally causing wildfires. I'm already preparing for loss of electricity in the summer as PG&E shuts down power lines on windy days to limit fire.  I so wish I wasn't dependent on the PG&E power grid, and that people like me who rent had more options for housing that relied on renewable energy.