Dhandapani Janarthanan
"Take action for every ecosystem, every creature. Let your actions this April speak volumes for our planet and its myriad of life forms."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 155 THIS WEEK
- 1,810 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO180meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO302milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO302milestraveled by foot
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UP TO1,423pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO1.0water footprintcalculated
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UP TO2.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO3.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO5.0advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO1.0treeplanted
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UP TO775minutesspent learning
Dhandapani's actions
Climate + Air
Stay on the Ground
Carbon emissions from air travel is harmful to planetary and human health. Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Pick Up the Phone
I will gather a group of friends, family, neighbors or colleagues to make 1 phone calls to public officials or companies to advocate for planet-friendly policies.
Land + Forests
Advocate for Forest Protection
Using my voice can help create a more sustainable and just world. I will contact 2 local, regional, or national decision makers to advocate for public policy that protects forests and improves their ability to sequester carbon and nourish biodiversity.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 20 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
Freshwater + Oceans
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will organize or participate in a trash pickup at a local river, beach, or natural body of water.
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.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Reduce Animal Products
One kilogram of beef and cheese emits 71kg and 24kg of greenhouse gasses, while 1kg of rice, grains, and legumes emits between 2-4kg. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts emit less than 1kg per 1kg. I will reduce my climate impact by enjoying 2 meatless meals and/or 2 vegan meals each day this week.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Leave No Trace
I will respect and protect biotic communities by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace whenever I am outside.
Land + Forests
Carry My Trash
I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me this month, to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill. I will post on the feed my reflections, conversations, and actions I will take moving forward.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Plastic in Clothing and Water
Synthetic clothing can contain plastic and shed harmful microplastics into our water. I will use a microplastics catcher in my laundry, or install a microplastics filter for my washing machine.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Beauty and Personal Products
Beauty and personal products can create a lot of waste. I will spend 30 minutes learning about the beauty and body products I use to see if they are refillable or recyclable. If not, I will reach out to the manufacturer to advocate for those options.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Seek Alternative Gifts and Souvenirs
When traveling, I will seek souvenirs that support local communities and do not cause harm to the environment or wildlife.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 30 minutes each day learning about the current status of local or global wildlife and how I can align my actions to support their livelihood.
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.
Climate + Air
Use Muscle Power
I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.
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.
Climate + Air
Choose Renewable Energy
Renewable energy options are becoming more widespread and accessible. Not only are they good for the planet, they can help save money as well. I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will contact them to advocate for this option in the future.
Freshwater + Oceans
Low Water Gardening
Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a household’s water consumption. Native plants are water-efficient and help maintain the balance and diversity of local ecosystems. I will plant native species with water-efficient plants to conserve water and improve the habitat, then post a photo on the feed to share.
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 30 minutes learning about how cleaning products affect our water and try making my own cleaning products to reduce pollutants.
Action Track: Community
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.
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
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.
Action Track: Community
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 1 hours in my community.
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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Dhandapani Janarthanan 5/01/2024 5:30 PMGreat contribution from everyone. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONClimate + Air Stay on the GroundWhat was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/30/2024 6:14 PMTo reduce reliance on air travel, I can explore alternative modes of transportation such as trains, buses, or carpooling for shorter distances. Additionally, I can prioritize virtual meetings and teleconferencing whenever possible to minimize the need for physical travel. When air travel is necessary, I can try to consolidate trips to reduce the frequency of flights and choose more direct routes to minimize carbon emissions. Finally, I can support initiatives that promote sustainable travel practices and invest in carbon offset programs to mitigate the environmental impact of unavoidable air travel. -
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/30/2024 6:09 PMFCEC scores the highest contribution on the ecochallenge. Congrats team... way to go.. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife 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?
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/30/2024 6:08 PMRegardless of our differences, we all share the basic need for survival, security, and well-being. We all experience joy, pain, love, and loss. We inhabit the same planet and rely on its resources for sustenance. Recognizing these commonalities can help cultivate empathy and understanding among individuals and communities, fostering cooperation and collaboration. It can also lead to more inclusive and equitable societies where everyone's needs and perspectives are valued, ultimately benefiting humanity as a whole. -
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/30/2024 5:59 PMCongrats to winner for the ecochallenge ... -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Advocate for Forest ProtectionHigher standards of living are very often dependent on moving our environmental costs elsewhere. What are some specific ways in which the environmental impacts of your own lifestyle might be shifted elsewhere?
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/30/2024 5:55 PMmy environmental impact primarily stems from the energy consumption of the servers and data centers that support my operation. To mitigate this, efforts can be made to use renewable energy sources for powering these facilities, optimizing energy efficiency, and investing in carbon offsetting initiatives. However, it's essential to acknowledge that achieving a completely neutral environmental impact may be challenging, but ongoing efforts can help minimize the overall footprint.-
Aleksandra Jalinskas 4/30/2024 5:59 PMHi Dhandapani, I could not agree more! For a while I struggled to find renewable energy options for renters although I recently learned about Common Energy and have really enjoyed it - highly recommend!
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Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/29/2024 5:10 PMGood contribution from everyone.. most important thing now is to follow everyone in the future as we did for last 30days... -
Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/28/2024 7:20 PMLast 2 days guys... I can see last minute contribution...keep up the great work-
Sakthi Dhandapani 4/29/2024 4:48 PMyes
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Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/27/2024 5:53 PMBeach cleanup activity....as part of eco challenge... thanks to emerson.-
Joseph Vener Roque 4/30/2024 7:16 AMamazing -
Anand Loganathan 4/27/2024 11:37 PMWow super DJ -
Kasinathan Sekar 4/27/2024 9:53 PMExcellent. -
Ann Lloyd 4/27/2024 6:48 PMExcellent job to you all! -
Sendhura Pandiyan S 4/27/2024 6:09 PMGreat -
Sakthi Dhandapani 4/27/2024 6:00 PMSuper
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Dhandapani Janarthanan 4/26/2024 4:37 PMIf it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, designed or removed from production.-
Kasinathan Sekar 4/28/2024 10:06 PMGood one. -
Sakthi Dhandapani 4/27/2024 6:00 PMWell said -
Karthik Shanmugam 4/27/2024 4:46 AM
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