Regardless of our differences in politics, race, religion, occupation, or geographical location, we all share some fundamental aspects of being human. One of the most essential commonalities is our humanity itself - the fact that we are all living, breathing beings with emotions, thoughts, and experiences. We all desire happiness, love, security, and fulfillment in our lives.
Narmadha Baskaradoss
"To be a responsible human being and to protect the mother earth"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 137 THIS WEEK
- 1,107 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0energy auditconducted
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UP TO234pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO172single-use bagsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO1.0hourvolunteered
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UP TO3.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO1.0community eventhosted or attended
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UP TO4.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0treeplanted
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UP TO2,033minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1,904minutesspent learning
Narmadha's actions
Action Track: Community
Pick Up the Phone
I will gather a group of friends, family, neighbors or colleagues to make 3 phone calls to public officials or companies to advocate for planet-friendly policies.
Climate + Air
Share My "Why"
I will record a video to share why I am taking action this Earth Month, a sustainable swap I've made, and/or a local conservation effort in my area.
Freshwater + Oceans
Reduce Pollutants in Cleaning
Understanding cleaning product ingredients and their effect on water and biodiversity is helpful to our consumer choices. I will spend 6 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
Climate + Air
Consume only Needs vs Wants
The more stuff we consume, the more greenhouse gasses we put into the atmosphere. I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach this month and only buy things I need.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Save the Bees
Bees are vital to ecosystems. To help save the bees, I will learn which local flowers provide nectar and plant them in my backyard or in a pot on my balcony.
Action Track: Community
JOIN OR CREATE A GREEN TEAM AT EMERSON
I will continue to contribute to Emerson's environmental sustainability goals beyond April by learning more about the Global Green Teams Network, joining a team near me, or maybe even creating a new team.
Action Track: Community
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWS ON SUSTAINABILITY AT EMERSON
I will sign up to the Sustainability Aficionados distribution list to receive global news on sustainability at Emerson, including world news and Greening OF, BY, and WITH news.
Action Track: Community
TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE ON LINKEDIN
I will take at least one photograph that is connected with this year's theme of Nature Conservation & Biodiversity (for example an urban park, bee hives, birds and other animals...) and I will post it on LinkedIn with the hashtags #EarthMonthEcochallenge #EarthMonthAtEmerson.
Action Track: Community
ATTEND THE ECOCHALLENGE CONSERVATION WEBINAR
On Wed 24th April, I will attend the Earth Month Ecochallenge Webinar on Conservation to learn about what individuals, companies and other organizations can do to promote biodiversity and nature protection.
Action Track: Community
Sustainability Lunch and Learn
Learning in a social setting can inspire connection and change. I will work with a friend or colleague to plan and host a lunch and learn at work, school, in my neighborhood or other location to learn more about an environmental topic important to me. After the lunch and learn, I will share more about it on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 2 hours in my community.
Climate + Air
Online Energy Audit
Energy use and waste is often invisible. I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.
Land + Forests
Explore My Area
When we explore natural spaces around us, our connections with them change. I will spend 60 minutes exploring a new area around my neighborhood, office, or campus (e.g., park, water body, nearby trail, community garden, green space, etc.).
Land + Forests
Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and Paper
Trees provide food and habitat for local wildlife species, shade our streets and homes, and help keep our air and water clean by capturing pollutants. Buying products that help protect forests makes a difference. I will only purchase wood, furniture, and paper products from ecologically certified sources such as Forest Stewardship Council.
Land + Forests
Zero Waste Day
The impacts of our waste are far reaching. I will create zero waste for an entire day and share my reflections and learnings on the feed.
Land + Forests
Personal Waste Audit
The waste we create daily can go unnoticed. I will track the waste I create in a day and post a photo log on the feed to see how much I create and where I can make different choices to reduce my waste going forward.
Freshwater + Oceans
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 45 minutes learning more about the importance of freshwater + ocean conservation, and how I can reduce my water use. I will share what I learn with people in person, on social media, and on the feed.
Freshwater + Oceans
Understand My Water Footprint
Each of us has a water footprint, directly linked to our daily activities as well as the water required in the production of things we use each day. Understanding our water use is important for a healthy planet. I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste, then share what I learned on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Borrow Before I Buy
Why buy something I will only use once or a few times if someone nearby has it for me to borrow, and why not share something I have that someone may only need a few times a year? To reduce my consumption and waste, I will create or support the sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Use Reusable Bags
Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by many wild animals and can end up in habitats that harm wildlife. I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.
Climate + Air
Declutter My Home Without the Landfill
Each day, I will learn about responsible ways to dispose of items and de-clutter, clean, donate, repurpose or recycle unneeded items in my home to make sure that what I get rid of doesn't go into the landfill.
Land + Forests
30 for 30 in Nature
Studies have shown that when we spend consistent time in nature, our health improves, our creativity increases, and our connection to the planet gets stronger. Each day of the Ecochallenge, I will spend 30 minutes outside (in a large or small patch of nature), then share my observations, reflections, and learnings on the feed.
Land + Forests
Keep My Community Clean
At times it may not feel like it's up to us to keep our community clean and healthy, but we all have a role to play. Each day I am outside, I will pick up any litter I see.
Land + Forests
Plant Trees
Trees capture carbon and produce oxygen that is essential to life on earth. I will support this important piece of nature by organizing or joining a community group to plant 1 native trees in my community, public parks, office location, campus or backyard.
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 QUESTIONAction Track: Community Pick Up the PhoneWhat do all of us have in common, regardless of politics, race, religion, occupation, or place we live? How can finding common ground help us as a society and as a species?
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/30/2024 2:02 AM
Regardless of our differences in politics, race, religion, occupation, or geographical location, we all share some fundamental aspects of being human. One of the most essential commonalities is our humanity itself - the fact that we are all living, breathing beings with emotions, thoughts, and experiences. We all desire happiness, love, security, and fulfillment in our lives. -
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/30/2024 2:00 AMThis year theme
Planet vs. Plastics unites students, parents, businesses, governments, churches, unions, individuals, and NGOs in an unwavering commitment to call for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.To achieve a 60% reduction by 2040, EARTHDAY.ORG’s goals are:
(1) Promoting widespread public awareness of the damage done by plastic to human, animal, and all biodiversity’s health and demanding more research be conducted on its health implications, including the release of any and all information regarding its effects to the public.
(2) rapidly phasing out all single use plastics by 2030 and achieving this phase out commitment in the United Nations Treaty on Plastic Pollution in 2024.
(3) demanding policies ending the scourge of fast fashion and the vast amount of plastic it produces and uses.
(4) investing in innovative technologies and materials to build a plastic-free world. -
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/30/2024 1:30 AMEducating our community is one of the most important and lasting steps that one can take to preserve the future of the planet. By educating others, they can begin to understand important issues and maybe even adopt a passion for environmentalism! You can spread awareness on a multitude of environmental issues and start initiatives to encourage education around sustainability. We can launch campaigns to encourage others to commute in more fuel-efficient ways, to help residents save energy in their homes or to increase the number of materials being recycled. There is always more to learn when it comes to sustainability, so start educating ourselves and others to help protect our planet! -
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/30/2024 1:20 AMWorld Environment Day
The 2024 edition of World Environment Day will focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, as the year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
2024 Host Country: Saudi ArabiaEach year, World Environment Day is hosted by a different country in which official celebrations take place. The host country for 2024 is Saudi Arabia, which will host the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), from 2 to 13 December 2024.
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Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/29/2024 11:55 PMToday is the last day of earth month, but there is a long way to go
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HARITHA HARIDAS M 4/30/2024 12:19 AMWell said -
Marcel Blaschzyk 4/29/2024 11:58 PMYou're right
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Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/28/2024 11:29 PMUsing public transport reduces congestion in towns and cities, it is cheaper than owning and operating a car-
Amirtharaj Asaithambi 4/28/2024 11:38 PMYes, Singapore is the best example.
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Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/28/2024 11:26 PMContaminants like heavy metals, oil spills, and pesticides can directly harm fish and other aquatic organisms. Fish can ingest these toxic substances, which can cause deformities like gill damage, fin, reproductive problems, and even death.One such example of this in action is the 2021 oil spill of Los Angeles. 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from a pipeline connected to an offshore rig, leading to the closure of 15 miles of beach and the death of an uncounted number of fish and birds.
Not only can pollution cause direct harm to marine life, it can also damage their environments and indirectly impact them in turn. The existence of huge algae or moss mats alone is a problem in itself, as it stops sunlight and certain life-giving nutrients from reaching further down to plants and fish. -
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/25/2024 4:42 AMGive composting a try!
Imagine if you could divert more of that to your own compost: It would help reduce the amount of solid waste you produce, as well as what eventually winds up in your local landfill. Plus, compost makes a great natural fertilizer.-
Amirtharaj Asaithambi 4/25/2024 4:45 AMYou're absolutely right! Composting is a fantastic way to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich "black gold" for your garden. Here are some additional benefits:- Reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers: Compost provides essential nutrients for plants naturally, promoting healthy growth without harsh chemicals.
- Benefits the environment: Composting keeps organic waste out of landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Saves money: Homemade compost is a free alternative to store-bought fertilizers, saving you money in the long run.
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Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/25/2024 4:34 AMAccording to the United Nations, at least 800 species worldwide are affected by marine debris, and as much as 80 percent of that litter is plastic. It is estimated that up to 13 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year—the equivalent of a rubbish or garbage truck loads worth every minute. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals can become entangled in or ingest plastic debris, causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning. Humans are not immune to this threat: While plastics are estimated to take up to hundreds of years to fully decompose, some of them break down much quicker into tiny particles, which in turn end up in the in the seafood we eat. -
Narmadha Baskaradoss 4/24/2024 5:23 AMBenefits of Earth worm- Earthworms increase soil fertility
Plants need nutrients to grow, just like humans need vitamins and a nutritious diet. Earthworms feed on plant debris and other organic matter like animal waste and manure. This diet of the earthworm implies that the digestive system of an earthworm gathers all the organic and inorganic nutrients and minerals from the soil around it, making the cast of earthworms rich in nutrients.- Earthworms improve soil drainage
Soils with poor drainage cause the roots of the plants and turfgrass to experience water stress due to waterlogging and puddles. Earthworms improve soil drainage by tunneling through the soil and loosening compact areas. This allows proper circulation of air, water and nutrients in the soil, which improves plant health.- Earthworms are a source of food for other wildlife
While we have seen that earthworms are highly beneficial to soil health, we also need to understand how they impact the mini-ecosystem of your landscape. Earthworms might be lower on the food chain than most species, but that does not make them any less important. Earthworms are a rich food source for wildlife like birds and frogs, which are helpful in pollinating the landscape.