Ecochallenge.org

Campus Ecochallenge

Carmen OConnor

Nature, God, and Social Justice 2023

Points Total

35 Today
35 This Week
2,341 Total

Participant Impact

up to

170

minutes

being mindful
up to

655

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
up to

272

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
up to

408

gallons of water

have been saved
up to

3,750

minutes

spent exercising
up to

780

minutes

spent outdoors

Carmen's Actions

Simplicity

Go For A Daily Walk Outside

I will take a walk outside for 15 minutes each day.

COMPLETED 33
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Limit Social Media

I will limit my social media use to once each day reducing my daily use by 30 minute(s)

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Keep a Nature Journal

I will journal each day about my experiences in nature.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waste

RESEARCH LOCAL WASTE SITES

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

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

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.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Community

LEARN ABOUT TRANS, FEMME, AND NONBINARY EXPERIENCES

I will spend 90 minutes learning about the experiences of trans, femme, and/or nonbinary people.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Community

Research Restorative Justice

I will spend 60 minutes learning about restorative justice and conflict resolution opportunities in my own community or state.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Community

Host A Watch Party

I will host a watch party to screen a documentary about an issue that matters to me.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Community

Support Native Communities

I will use the resource links provided below and spend 60 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

Water

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 51
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Explore My Area

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Nature

Go for a Daily Walk

I will take a 15-minute walk outside each day.

COMPLETED 34
DAILY ACTIONS

Simplicity

Core Values

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.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Energy

Switch to Cold Water

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 133 lbs of CO2 a month and 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 36
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Exercise Daily

Exercise is a great stress blaster! I will exercise for 45 minute(s) each day.

COMPLETED 44
DAILY ACTIONS

Health

Happiness

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

COMPLETED 57
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 36
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

Reflection Question
Simplicity Limit Social Media

Social media can keep us connected with loved ones, make us laugh, and help us to learn new things. It can also create echo chambers and take more time than we realize or intend to give. After completing this action for a few days, how do you feel? What do you notice?

Carmen OConnor 2/16/2023 5:45 AM

I feel much happier when I consciously focus on the present. Decreasing my time on social media has allowed me to spend more time being present, and even after just a couple days, I think there's a generative effect.

Read More
- Diego Bigelow-Gonzalo 3/25/2023 12:48 PM
  
  That's so awesome! I always try to spend less time on social media, mostly checking direct messages and stuff, and it's been such a more enjoyable life since
  
  Read More
- Sara Pizzini 3/22/2023 3:01 PM
  
  I completely agree! Spending time off of social media is so refreshing and allows me to notice the beauty of daily life without getting distracted.
  
  Read More
- Maria Quinn 2/17/2023 12:31 PM
  
  I feel the same way when I limit my social media time!
  
  Read More
Reflection Question
Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?

Carmen OConnor 2/05/2023 10:00 AM

When I think about barriers to using a reusable water bottle, drinkable tap water comes to mind. I've lived in places where tap water isn't drinkable, so then bottled water is a valued resource for ensuring people don't get sick. That being said, I think that increasing the resources that are able to purify water such as water filters or water filtration systems would be helpful in enacting change that would lead to less bottled water consumption over time.

Read More
- Diego Bigelow-Gonzalo 3/25/2023 1:03 PM
  
  Those are definitely strong barriers. This is a relatively small one, but certain places that one goes, one is not allowed to bring water bottles or containers, and for that reason it's easier to carry around disposable waters one can just throw away once one's done with them. However, increasing accessibility of reusable water bottles would be a huge boost to the reduction of unnecessary plastics.
  
  Read More
Reflection Question
Nature Keep a Nature Journal

What natural gifts are you grateful for?

Carmen OConnor 1/20/2023 7:13 AM

I am grateful for the gift of good health. It's a blessing that is easy to take for granted; however, when I am walking or running outside, I notice how blessed I am to be able to breath the fresh air, see all my surroundings, and experience nature in an accessible way.

Read More
- Diego Bigelow-Gonzalo 3/25/2023 1:04 PM
  
  I have to agree 100% with Marguerite on this - I took a moment to pause and appreciate my good health, and it made me very happy that I'm doing well and feeling well.
  
  Read More
- Marguerite Saunders 1/23/2023 7:30 AM
  
  Carmen, thank you for sharing this! My health is definitely something I take for granted, and I wouldn't have taken a moment just now to be thankful for it had I not read this post. Health is such a blessing.
  
  Read More
Reflection Question
Health Happiness

How does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?

Carmen OConnor 1/18/2023 10:56 AM

When I was a kid, my mom used to tell me that if I was sad or emotionally hurt that I should think of something I was grateful for. She said that gratitude is a stronger emotion than many negative ones and it can be used as a tool for strength and positive action. When I think about how gratitude can keep me centered and motivated to work for a better world, I thought of her saying that. Negative thoughts are demotivating and can lead to inaction; however, these thoughts can be mitigated if not completely banished by continually practicing gratitude and mental strength. In the long run, I believe these skills are essential in order to create any sort of meaningful impact on the world around us.

Read More
Reflection Question
Nature Go for a Daily Walk

How do you experience your neighborhood or city differently when walking instead of driving?

Carmen OConnor 1/17/2023 7:15 PM

I feel more present and connected to my neighborhood when I use walking as my method of exploration with the world around me. I notice street names, beautiful houses, and plants more when I'm present on walks, and I appreciate things like the sun or the wind that I don't take notice of when I'm doing other activities while walking.

Read More
Reflection Question
Health Exercise Daily

How can you incorporate other personal values (like quality time with friends or spending time in nature) into your exercise routine?

Carmen OConnor 1/17/2023 7:10 PM

By sharing my exercise routine with friends, I can open them up to the opportunity to enjoy and learn the values that I enjoy in my activities. For example, today I went to yoga and practiced being present in my breath and proud of all my body is able to accomplish. Bringing my friends with me increases the community aspect around exercise and increases the group's mindfulness around practicing these values.

Read More
Reflection Question
Water Use Reusable Bottles

What are some of the needs that water meets or benefits that water provides for you?

Carmen OConnor 1/17/2023 5:27 AM

Water is a consistent fuel in my everyday life. I love and find peace in the practice of yoga - a practice that I must be well-hydrated for before class. Because of this, I find that water takes on a nurturing role in the sense that it allows me to pursue difficult physical activities without depleting my body. Similarly, water nurtures much of the world around us too. Vegetation, animals, trees, and even larger institutional structures (such as waterway transportation and energy that comes from dams and rivers) all rely on and are interconnected to water.

Read More