Earth Month Ecochallenge 2023: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Rita Haider

Simply Living 2023

"Through my commitment to taking care of the environment, I hope to inspire others to join me in this important work and create a better future for all living beings."

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
750 Total

Participant Impact

up to

4.8

pounds

food waste prevented
up to

28

zero-waste meals

consumed
up to

10.0

pounds of CO2

have been saved
up to

271

minutes

being mindful
up to

238

gallons of water

have been saved
up to

1.0

conversations

with people
up to

3.0

hours

volunteered
up to

6.0

documentaries

watched
up to

600

minutes

spent learning

Rita's Actions

Education & Livelihood

Research Impact Investing

SDG 8

Using the links provided below, I will research impact investing or my current investment portfolio to determine if they align with my values.

Completed
One-Time Action

Basic Needs & Security

Make Zero-Waste Meals

SDG 2

I will cook 1 meals with zero waste each day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Green Burial

Talk with a non-profit about natural vs green burial and local options.

Completed
One-Time Action

Basic Needs & Security

Volunteer in My Community

SDG 1

I will volunteer 12 hours in my community.

Completed
One-Time Action

Basic Needs & Security

Watch a Documentary About Food, Water, or Basic Needs

SDG 6

I will watch 1 documentaries about food, water, or basic needs.

Completed
One-Time Action

Education & Livelihood

Watch a Documentary About Education or Work

SDG 4

I will watch 1 documentaries about education or work.

Completed
One-Time Action

Health & Equity

Watch a Documentary About Equity, Gender, Health, or Peace

SDG 3, 5, 10, 16

I will watch 1 documentaries about equity, gender, health, or peace.

Completed
One-Time Action

Climate & Ecosystems

Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

SDG 13, 14, 15

I will watch 1 documentaries about climate change.

Completed
One-Time Action

Climate & Ecosystems

Create & Share A Love Letter, Poem, Song or Picture

SDG 14, 15

I will express my love and gratitude for our planet by writing a love letter, poem, song or taking a picture. I will share this in the Ecochallenge feed or on my social media.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Education & Livelihood

Share Your Eco Habits

SDG 11

Through my Earth Month Ecochallenge feed, I will share with others an environmentally friendly habit I have cultivated.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG 3

I will spend 10 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Watch a Documentary About Economy, Energy, or Industry

SDG 7, 9, 12

I will watch 4 documentaries about economy, energy, or industry.

Completed
One-Time Action

Economy & Communities

Chat With A Nonprofit

SDG 12

I will have a conversation with one or more nonprofit organizations I want to be involved with.

Completed
One-Time Action

Feed

Rita Haider 5/07/2023 1:19 PM

I did not hit the mark on every item I had hoped to accomplish, but I did learn from others on this journey. It gives me hope for the future to see what other people are doing to make our world a better place. Thanks team.

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Reflection Question
Climate & Ecosystems Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

What did you watch, and what was the most important thing you learned in the documentary(ies) you watched? How does what you learned connect to your understanding of climate change and Earth Month?

Rita Haider 4/28/2023 9:16 PM

I volunteered at the Cinema Columbus Film Festival and watched REIMAGINE FASHION. This film went deep into the environmental effects of fashion and how it has been getting continuously worse. I am going to look more at fiber content and try to get more natural fibers like cotton and wool. It made me think how I wish clothes came with a tag to let us know of their carbon footprint, something like what the airlines do with flights.

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Rita Haider 4/20/2023 7:46 PM

Today I rode with a friend to a thrift store that I did not know about. It is on the OSU campus and only open on Wednesdays during the academic year. They said the last Wednesday for this year is May 3rd until they open again in August. The profits fund scholarships for students. I didn't buy anything, but I was tempted.

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Reflection Question
Education & Livelihood Research Impact Investing

After learning more about investing, how can you increase positive impacts and decrease negative impacts?

Rita Haider 4/18/2023 1:37 PM

I wrote/called the three credit unions that I have accounts with and asked them if they invest in fossil fuels. One got back to me rather quickly, in a few days, saying they did not. One keep talking about what they do but not answering my question, so I kept repeating it. I still never really got a straight answer, they tried to make it sound like they did not. One I am waiting for a response, but it has only been a couple of days. I know I need to get a different credit card, one that does not support fossil fuels. Hopefully, I will have an answer prior to the end of this EcoChallenge. I think letting financial institutions know you are interesting in what they are doing with your money, is a start.

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- Lily Schaefer 4/19/2023 2:15 PM
  
  I definitely need to switch my cards, and do some research of my own as well. I am interested in what you find out in the future!
  
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Rita Haider 4/16/2023 12:44 PM

Today I put food in the "Blessing Box" at the church where I take QiGong. I noticed someone had placed plastic wear in the box. I try really hard not to get plastic wear, but sometimes restaurants seem to add it into a to go order without asking and if I don't remember to ask them not to. Now I know where I can take those that I have been burdened with. So if you have plastic wear and don't want to just throw it away, as I know of no place that recycles it, consider dropping it at one of those free food boxes you see around town.

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Rita Haider 4/15/2023 10:37 AM

Today I listened to a podcast on home burial. It can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/627256/8644016-home-funeral-basics-with-lauren-carroll
It is legal in all 50 states, but requirements to make it happen vary in the different states. It is basically how it was many years ago. I remember as a child going to a home where the body was in a casket in the living room. I plan to learn more.

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Rita Haider 4/14/2023 5:44 AM

I walked my bag of bags (darn it I didn't take a photo, it was rather large) to Giant Eagle where they accept and recycle all sorts of plastic bags. For example, I had a lot of bags that frozen fruits and veggies come in, plastic newspaper sleeves, day cleaner bags and more. I will post the photo I did take of what is acceptable and what is not.

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- Lily Schaefer 4/17/2023 9:30 AM
  
  This is great information! I know some Krogers also take back plastic bags.
  
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Rita Haider 4/12/2023 3:44 PM

Today I looked at the hummingbird migration map: https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2023-map.htm and learned that a hummingbird was spotted in Columbus on April 8th at two different locations. So today I made up the sugar water and got my two hummingbird feeders out. I have attached a photo of one of the feeders. Did you know one banded rubythroat was recorded surviving at least 9 years. But most live about 3 or 4 years. Most of these birds DO return to the same feeders or gardens to breed year after year. No hummer spotted today, but I will be watching for them. Hopefully they will arrive prior to the end of the EcoChallenge and I will be able to get a photo to share.

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- Lily Schaefer 4/17/2023 9:33 AM
  
  My mom and Grandma have also each put our their hummingbird feeders and are eagerly awaiting their arrival!
  
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Reflection Question
Education & Livelihood Share Your Eco Habits

How do you create new sustainability-related habits or change bad habits?

Rita Haider 4/11/2023 8:16 PM

When the pandemic hit I was on my last roll of paper towels. I made a stack of rags out of a very old flannel sheet and placed in the kitchen under the sink. I still have that same roll of paper towels that I was using prior to the pandemic. I use probably half a sheet every other month. That is typically to put in with the lettuce to absorb moisture. When finished I dry it out to use it on the next purchase of lettuce.

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- Lily Schaefer 4/17/2023 9:33 AM
  
  This is amazing! We use way too many paper towels in my apartment, that is for sure.
  
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Rita Haider 4/10/2023 8:59 PM

Today two friends and I went downtown to view the current Art Spot. This is a series of temporary public art installations that explore themes around climate change and conservation. This tour starts at the northern most installation, in the Short North and heads south to downtown. There are 13 spots featuring 14 artists and nine locations—look for the Art Spot logo. Art Spot installations are in the windows of partner businesses and nonprofits through the first half of 2023. We visited all but but four in two hours. We plan to visit the ones we missed in two weeks. I think my favorite was the indigo-dyed couture gown, hand-felted with local wool and alpaca.
The dress is accentuated with cut-outs of endangered Ohio insects, including Hine’s Emerald dragonfly, the American burying beetle, laricis tree cricket and the Karner blue butterfly.
Learn more here: https://www.columbusmakesart.com/artspot.

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- Lily Schaefer 4/11/2023 6:10 PM
  
  This sounds awesome! I have never heard of this series before, I would love to see all of these next time I make it to Columbus.
  
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