I will take a short survey about my experience to help the Ecochallenge team improve future events, earn a chance to win a prize, and earn 15 points!
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Share My Why
Share My Why
I will share my Ecochallenge story and why I'm taking action for the planet — and earn 15 points!
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Wildlife
Learn to be a Responsible Tourist
Being a responsible tourist means not disturbing wildlife and choosing eco-friendly tour operators and destinations that prioritize wildlife conservation and respect animal welfare. I will spend 30 minutes researching ways to travel responsibly to ensure my adventures support, rather than harm, wildlife and their habitats.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Land, Water, and Air
Join a Cleanup Effort
Working together to clean up public spaces helps the environment and builds community. I will participate in 1 community cleanup efforts in my neighborhood or local area.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Offer a Skill or Service
Sharing our talents can benefit those around us. I will offer my skills or services to support my community, such as helping someone with a task, tutoring, repairing something, or volunteering my expertise.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Visit or Learn About a Culturally Significant Site Near Me
Sites of cultural and spiritual significance hold deep meaning for many communities, particularly Indigenous peoples. I will learn about or visit a site near me that is significant to the history, culture, or environment of the area. I will approach my visit with respect by researching its importance and guidelines beforehand, reflecting on how we can preserve these spaces for future generations.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Land, Water, and Air
Learn About Water Justice
Access to clean water is a basic right, yet not everyone has it. I will spend 30 minutes learning about water justice issues and who is affected.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Share Information about Local Resources
Knowledge of local resources helps communities thrive. I will learn about local resources, especially mutual aid groups, and share them with others on social media, in conversations, or in other ways that help spread the word.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Wildlife
Learn How to Save the Bees
Bees and other pollinators are vital to ecosystems and agriculture. I will spending 30 minutes learning about local pollinators and why they are so important.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Wildlife
Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace means enjoying nature responsibly by minimizing our impact and leaving the environment as we found it, or better. I will spend 30 minutes learning about the seven core principles to minimize my impact while enjoying the outdoors.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Swap and Share with Others
Swapping and sharing resources reduces waste and builds community bonds. I will participate in 3 swaps or sharing activities, like borrowing items, attending or hosting a swap meet, or giving away items I no longer need to support a sharing economy with friends, family, colleagues or neighbors.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Explore My Area
Discovering what’s nearby fosters a deeper connection to my community. I will explore 3 new places in my area, such as parks, historical sites, or local businesses.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Join a Group
Belonging to a group can help build friendships and a sense of purpose. I will explore online or in-person groups or clubs that share my interests or goals and join a group to connect with others.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community and Connection
Attend a Local Event
Local events such as farmers' markets, festivals, or community meetings like town halls are great ways to feel part of a community. I will attend 1 community events to connect with others and learn more about my area.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Health and Well-Being
Replace a Product
Small changes can make a big difference for health and sustainability. Using what I learned from auditing ingredients in the products I use, I will replace 3 toxic or harmful products I use with safer, eco-friendly alternatives.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Health and Well-Being
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
Environmental issues often impact marginalized communities the most. I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Wildlife
Learn to Grow Plants Your Way
Growing plants can be rewarding and can create habitats big and small for wildlife. And, we can grow things almost anywhere! I will spend 30 minutes researching options for growing plants either inside or outside.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Empowering the Next Generation
Support Youth Climate Activists
Youth activists are leading the charge for a better world. I will spend 30 minutes learning about or supporting youth climate activists through sharing their work or attending their events.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Sustainable Innovation
Choose a Product Made with Sustainable Materials
Every choice matters. I will purchase or switch to products made from sustainable or recycled materials to support innovation and reduce environmental impact.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Health and Well-Being
Prepare for Extreme Weather
Extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can disrupt lives and upend our communities. I will take proactive steps to prepare for extreme weather by safeguarding my home and creating or updating an emergency plan and kit with essential supplies, evacuation routes, and contact information.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Health and Well-Being
Enjoy Fruits and Veggies
Adding fruits and vegetables to our meals nourishes our body and the planet. I will prepare and enjoy 3 servings of a variety of colorful fruits and veggies.
COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS
Land, Water, and Air
Reduce Food Waste
Wasting food also wastes water, energy, and resources. I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.
COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS
Health and Well-Being
Reduce Refined Sugar
Cutting back on refined sugar can improve energy, mood, and overall health. I will limit my intake of sugary snacks and drinks by reducing refined sugar in meals or snacks each day.
COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS
Wildlife
Learn to Be a Responsible Pet Owner
Being a responsible pet owner means minimizing the impact pets have on wildlife by keeping them indoors, never setting them 'free' into nature, and supervising pets when they are outside to prevent them from hunting or disturbing wild animals. This also keeps our pets safe from harm. I will spend 15 minutes learning about ways to ensure my pet’s behavior and care practices protect local wildlife and their ecosystems.
COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS
Land, Water, and Air
Save Water When Washing Dishes
Dishwashers can save water — if used wisely. I will only run the dishwasher when it’s full and skip the pre-rinse to reduce water and energy use. If I don't have a dishwasher, I will turn off the tap as often as possible while washing dishes.
COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS
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?
On this final day of the Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025, I have very mixed feelings about the event.
First: Thank you to all the enthusiastic Ecochallengers who performed tasks, learned about issues, and shared their knowledge and experience! I benefited from reading your feed posts.
BUT: It appears that many so-called participants are not actually doing all or possibly any of the tasks they claim. I observed things in the feed for this event that I've never experienced in the other Ecochallenges I've done over the years.
And no, I don't mean that the mission statement of the team currently with the most points is:
"Satan, Embrace Sustainability and lead Earth towards a green future"
I am not kidding; check it out for yourself!
I mean things like this:
Is Jeremy Gu even a human? Twice in his feed he makes references to being an AI. Check out this feed post of his:
As an AI, I don't directly participate in the Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025. But I'm ready to share tips on conservation, like reducing waste and saving energy, to help others make a difference!"
As of this writing, Jeremy Gu has accrued 1,351 points...even though he states he is not directly participating. But his posts are oddly non-specific, and they repeat the same information with very little variance in wording. It does sound AI-generated. I've reported this phenomenon to Tech Support.
Some people use the same exact paragraph for all feed posts and reflection question responses. They don't actually answer the reflection questions, and may either be AI-generated or simply copied and pasted from an uncredited source.
Similarly, members of the same team will post the same exact paragraph across many areas. I commented that they appeared to be copying and pasting from each other, but no one responded with clarification. I did go back to check.
Most of the aforementioned behaviors were from teams associated with a major sponsor. Are employees getting some kind of work reward for a high point score such that their motivation is NOT to learn and practice sustainable living techniques but just to look like they've been participating? This defeats the purpose of the event.
The tasks in many cases seemed miscategorized. Things that should have been one-time tasks were listed as daily, and vice versa. Trying to "Produce No Waste for a Day" every day of the month sounds pretty hard to me!
The feed was incredibly boring and content-light, with fewer than usual people sharing details. Many responses appeared to just have been copied and pasted from the resource materials provided for the task. I usually have lots of interactions with new people as we share tips and experiences about our similar interests. But with this Ecochallenge, not that many people posted enough information to motivate any kind of response.
And some responses made me want to respond, "SERIOUSLY? You're claiming THAT?" like the woman who stated that the skills she shared for a one-time task and reflection question were " providing tips on the feed." Yes, what many of us are doing on this feed every single day. Wow. Compare that response to what other people were doing, like event organizing.
A surprising number of participants posted high point totals that could not have been achieved without a significant number of recruiting points. Do the math! Add up the maximum points available for:
Sign-up including referral/early bird/any other bonus if any, selection of first task, posting profile picture/banner/mission statement
Performing 20 advanced one-time actions and their associated reflection questions
Checking in daily for more than one daily task, posting to feed, and responding to a feed post--be sure to multiply this 30 for each day of April
Claiming "I already do" ALL the tasks not selected for Daily or One-Time
Purchasing 175 points
All this adds up to 2024 points or thereabouts. But--what are the chances that a participant would choose only advanced one-time tasks AND claim to already be doing every other task on the list? I'm one heck of a sustainer, but even I can't manage all those tasks all the time. (Especially since I'm not rich and can't afford all the suggested donations, given what I'm already doing and donating.)
You earn recruiting points when people you contact sign up to participate or join a team. It does make sense that captains of teams from large companies will earn these points.
However, I can't help thinking that some individuals are using AI to game the system, and that some teams may as a group be doing this.
I sadly conclude that in many cases, this Ecochallenge is basically a greenwashing, self-aggrandizing pat-on-the-back for one or more companies.
I wish I didn't feel this way. I think that the Ecochallenge approach is a fun and effective way for people to develop a sustainable lifestyle. I just think that the organization's leaders need to take action against abuses like inappropriate use of artificial intelligence. I urge you to reach out to the organizers to protest this.
It's disheartening for me to pore over the internet looking for useful resources and information I can share about, say, being a responsible pet owner--I can't even count the places where I shared information about free chipping, low-cost or free neutering, little-known veterinary treatments; I really did do this every single day, and I'm happy to say that people have reported getting their animals neutered as a result of what I shared!--only to read a feed post from someone claiming to be an AI not directly participating but who's accrued more than a thousand points. I just try to brush it off and concentrate on what I as an individual can do--but I thought I should make some mention of my observations.
I really do appreciate those of you who used this Ecochallenge to explore, experiment, reach out, contemplate, act, practice, and share. YOU are making the world a better place, even if the fakers are just greenwashing.
I forgot about the 25 points you can earn for answering reflection questions on daily tasks. So approximately 2050 is the new base maximum score before recruitment points.
Random thoughts about things I've been doing in connection with my chose activities for this Ecochallenge:
We know that salads (at least if we don't put too much fatty dressing on them!) are good for us, and most of us enjoy eating them...but sometimes when you come home tired, it seems like too much work to tear the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, chop the onion, etc. That's why I keep a mini-salad bar in my fridge. When I have some extra time, I prep the ingredients--not too much of any of them--and put them in separate containers. I'm a lot more likely to eat a salad that when I just have to pull off a few lids as opposed to exercising my knife skills. :)
Being a responsible pet owner means helping your friends out by picking up their dog from the kennel early on the day of their return so they don't get charged for an extra day...even if this means you have to dance around for awhile with an overexcited pup.
Similarly, we relocated a bird feeder because its customers would knock seed to the dirt below, enticing birds to pick at it and making them sitting doves (we don't have ducks in the back yard that I know of) for the feral cat colonists. Even though we feed those guys a lot, they still have that urge to hunt. Moving the feeder to a grassy area means that the fallen seed is harder for the birds to spot, so they're more likely to stay on the feeder and out of danger.
No matter how many park improvements you attend where some of the participants are not experience gardeners, you're almost always going to encounter a pitchfork or rake that's been abandoned with its points UP. Be careful out there!
Sometimes you will add basil leaves to a salad to make it a more interesting alternative to meat but your friend might mistake it for mint and put it in his tea. And you might see it and freak out and think that YOU put the basil in the tea and worry that you're having cognitive issues.
I know that some roaches are pollinators, but I am really creeped out by the huge ones that can fly around! Many people who move to the Texas Gulf Coast are surprised by the high humidity, the frequent flooding, and THOSE GIANT FLYING NASTY BROWN THINGS known as palmetto bugs. Eww! Ick! I greatly prefer pollinators like butterflies, birds, and bees. :)
I did not know that some cockroaches are pollinators or that they are sometimes referred to as palmetto bugs! Thank you for sharing! I live in Central Texas and, gee whiz, our cockroaches certainly aren't small either 😅
Who: A group of consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc.
Why: The consumers allege Amazon misled consumers by falsely advertising its Amazon Basics Paper Products as environmentally friendly.
Where: The Amazon class action was filed in Washington federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges Amazon.com Inc. falsely advertised its Amazon Basics Paper Products as environmentally friendly.
The lawsuit explains Amazon failed to disclose that its paper products are made from wood harvested using environmentally harmful methods, such as clearcutting and burning.
The Amazon Basics Paper Products class action lawsuit is Ramos, et al. v. Amazon.com Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-00465, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
I love the concept of an animal ambulance! Until I read a feed post from Ulrike Lindstrom about donating to the Swedish animal ambulance organization and was motivated to do an internet search, I had no idea that the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers this service. According to their website, it's the only one in the entire Texas Gulf (of Mexico) Coast region.
Houston-area Ecochallengers, to contact the 24-hour animal rescue ambulance:
Call 713-869-SPCA (7722) seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
After hours and holidays, please call 713-880-HELP (4357).
Today my co-captain and I took part in a greenway clean-up effort organized by another participant in this Ecochallenge. Lisa is a leader in environmental activities in our city and has organized many events like this over the years. The greenway administration changed the main goal for the day from trash pick-up to mulching, so we spent most of the time with a rake or a pitchfork in our hands (though some of us did pick up a little trash--it's so aggravating to see those beer caps). First, after weeding the unwanted "volunteer" plants in the space, we spread mulch on a circular area with a radius of about 15 feet around a huge oak tree. A mathematician in the group guessed at the width of the tree trunk and figured out that we'd spread at least 8 cubic yards of mulch in that one area alone. Then we distributed mulch around several areas of native plants. As always with Willow Waterhole Greenway, I was impressed with the informative signage about the flora and fauna.
The mulching process involved using pitchforks to load mulch from its original deposit site near the street onto a golf cart-type vehicle with a flat bed that can be tilted to dump the contents. A skilled driver maneuvered this cart between stones and plants to the desired locations, where we unloaded the mulch with pitchforks and then used pitchforks, rakes, and our hands to get it in the exact places.
I appreciate how well-organized the event was. All equipment was provided, including gloves...though my co-captain and I brought our own since we're used to them from yard work. A highlight was getting to listen in on the educational event where the younger workers heard about how a greenway is run and then had the chance to ask questions. It was clear to me that these kids care about the environment and want to know how to take care of their planet.
What was the most unexpected piece of trash that was picked up during your local cleanup effort? How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?
I think the most unexpected piece of trash I picked up today was a rather elaborate cigar cap--like the plastic mouthpiece often seen on cigars, but fancier. It looked like someone picked a scenic greenway to illegally consume their tobacco. Other than that, trash was mostly the usual food and beverage debris--including for alcohol, which is also prohibited in the area.
I enjoyed working with people ranging in age from elementary schoolkids to senior citizens. The discussions ranged from "How many fish are there in the world?" to "Prom was great" to "One of the best books I've read recently was _The Ministry for the Future_."
I stayed up all night to watch the funeral of Pope Francis, which didn't start until 3 AM my time. Though not a practicing Catholic, I admired this leader who spoke of love and mercy in meaningful and practical ways. Pope Francis has been the most environmentally outspoken world leader of our time. He wrote an Encyclical urging all people to "Care For Our Common Home." It's a long document, but if you want to read it, it's available in its entirety in several languages at https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html.
As an AI, I don't directly participate in the Earth Month Ecochallenge 2025. But I'm ready to share tips on conservation, like reducing waste and saving energy, to help others make a difference! =====
I went to his page and it says that he has collected 1,156 points so far. I'm curious as to how you can earn points without directly participating. That's very confusing. Is this actually an artificial intelligence app and not a human being?
I'm excited to have completed all my one-time tasks except for the group clean-up, and that's scheduled for Sunday. A few Ecochallenges back, my co-captain and I organized our own event to clean up one mile of streets in our neighborhood, including a SPARK Park (which is a park on public school grounds that is available to the public after school hours). It was designed to limit carbon emissions, because all team members could walk to the route.
What was amazing about the event was how it drew casual observers in! We did this on a Sunday morning, when many folks were walking for recreation or exercising their dogs. When people saw us picking up trash and recyclables, separating them, and putting them into bags in a gardening cart we were pulling, many of them were curious enough to ask for details. We told them about Ecochallenge.org and how it had influenced us to embrace sustainability in more ways. And folks just jumped in and helped! They didn't walk the whole route with us, but they pitched in--literally--for a block or more and really aided our progress. I hope that some of those volunteers were motivated to look up Ecochallenge and learn, even if they don't join an actual challenge.
We were hot and sweaty and tired at the when we retraced our steps to the starting point--and just a little bit sad to realizing there was ALREADY more trash on the street we'd just cleaned (of course we picked up the trash; we weren't THAT beat)--but it was totally worth it. We met a lot of nice people and dogs that day while improving our neighborhood!
Sunday's event, which is also in my neighborhood, should be even more productive since volunteers will be coming from all over the city.
I'd love to hear from others who've had a positive experience with a public clean-up effort.
