๐ Ilea Sonia
"Let's focus on what makes a difference for our future."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 220 THIS WEEK
- 967 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO40meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO240pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO24poundswaste composted
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UP TO5.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO10hoursvolunteered
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UP TO30advocacy actionscompleted
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UP TO2.0community eventshosted or attended
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UP TO10treesplanted
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UP TO60minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1,515minutesspent learning
๐ Ilea's actions
Freshwater + Oceans
Go Plastic-Free
Millions of tons of plastic is produced each year worldwide. Each day, I will conduct a plastics audit of what I buy and use throughout the challenge (kitchen, bathroom, personal care products, etc.), to see how single-use plastic shows up in my life. I will find plastic-free alternatives to these products and advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, product manufacturers, at work, or on campus.
Land + Forests
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
Smart Seafood Choices
We need to support healthy seafood populations. I will spend 10 minutes learning about sustainable seafood choices, commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean, and share what I learned on the feed.
Action Track: Community
Raise Awareness for the Conservation of Freshwater and Oceans
I will spend 10 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.
Action Track: Community
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
Regenerative Agriculture and Me
Regenerative agriculture focuses on farming and ranching in a way that supports life and restores the soil. I will spend minutes learning about regenerative agriculture and find out if any nearby farms practice regenerative agriculture.
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
Compost Food Waste
Food in the landfill is one of the main sources of greenhouse gasses. I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to the landfill per day by composting my food.
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
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
Endangered Species
Wildlife and biodiversity play an important role on our planet and are being threatened each year. I will spend 20 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
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
Grow Local
I will research and plant a garden filled with native fruits, vegetables, and flowers to nurture local wildlife and ecosystems. I will find nearby nurseries that offer plants native to my area.
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 1 vegan meals each day this week.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Volunteer in my Community
I will volunteer 10 hours in my community.
Biodiversity + Wildlife
Invest in Nature
A healthy world needs both our daily actions and support from larger systems. I will spend 30 minutes learning about how I can use my investments and savings to advance environmental sustainability.
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.
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.
Freshwater + Oceans
Low Water Gardening
Grass lawns are water-intensive and on average require about 30 percent of a householdโs 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.
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
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.
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.
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 5 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 โyour why.โ Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 1:11 AMAlmost There! Four more days of this wonderful experience! Let's reflect on what are the habits that we should keep for the next 11 months. :) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Choose Eco-Friendly Wood and PaperBeyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 1:05 AMForests are healing souls. The fresh air, the green color, the peace that you find, is the best therapy. If we lose that, we are lost.... -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Zero Waste DayWhat was hard about having a Zero Waste Day? What did you learn about yourself and your habits?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 1:04 AMIt takes a little effort to achieve such a result, but I enjoyed the challenge. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLand + Forests Explore My AreaWhere did you go for your walk or hike in nature? What were the benefits of doing so?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 1:03 AMWe walk a lot in nature, I could say that every week we take hikes. The best of this year was close to Brasov in a beautiful old forest.st.-
Miroslav Povaลพai 4/26/2024 1:10 AMWow, itยดs really nice area. :-) -
๐ Iulia Catanescu 4/26/2024 1:06 AMIndeed, a beautiful forest and picture. ๐
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Smart Seafood ChoicesMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 1:01 AMRomanians consume less fish than the citizens of any other country in the EU. Even though we have the sea and the Danube River, and there is a lot of fish, culturally we are not consuming. We need to work more on raiseing awareness on the benefits of fish consumption. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFreshwater + Oceans Reduce Pollutants in CleaningWhat did you learn about ingredients in our cleaning products and how they impact water and biodiversity? Did you try making your own cleaning products? If so, how did it go?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 12:58 AMLemon juice and vinegar are my favourits, combined with baking soda!-
Mehul Menghar 4/26/2024 1:00 AMWe also use that for sharing ... we feel someone also using ... amazing result.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Save the BeesWhat did you plant for bees in your area? Please consider uploading a photo!
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 12:57 AMMany many flowers, especially Levander brings not only bees but also beautiful butterflies in our small garden.-
Sathya Harika Konduri 4/26/2024 1:06 AMNice
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Invest in NatureWhat did you learn about how investing can support the environment and create a more sustainable world?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 12:55 AMThis is how small gestures, from many people can really make the difference. Funds that support the entities that are specialized and take the right decisions and actions towards protecting the environment is an opportunity for each of us to contribute. Together we can really have an impact. We all need to contribute to saving our home. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Volunteer in my CommunityHow does volunteering enhance your community and/or change your relationship with it?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 12:39 AMVolunteering is more than just do good, it is real support for the community, for those who need it and it is also a good way to recharge your batteries and start practicing gratitude. So, it helps also for wellbeing. And the team activities in volunteering are the best teambuilding. Doing good strengthens the feeling of belongingness and sense of contribution to the bigger good. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBiodiversity + Wildlife Endangered SpeciesWhat endangered species did you learn about and what did you learn?
๐ Ilea Sonia 4/26/2024 12:36 AMI learned about the Sumatran elephant, and the fact that it is critically endangered. The greatest threats to Sumatran elephants are habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation; illegal killing (e.g. for their ivory and other products or in retaliation for human-elephant conflicts); and the loss of genetic viability resulting from small population size and isolation.