Earth Month Ecochallenge 2023: Sustainable Development Goals

April 1 - April 30, 2023

Melissa Tomecz

JAC Sustainability

"Making the world more sustainable with small actions every day."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,361 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

2.0

community events

hosted or attended
UP TO

1.0

conversation

with a person
UP TO

8.0

documentaries

watched
UP TO

1.0

donation

made
UP TO

765

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

725

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

265

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

725

minutes

not spent in front of a screen
UP TO

50

pieces of litter

picked up

Melissa's actions

Health & Equity

Watch “Into The Weeds: Dewayne “Lee” Johnson vs. Monsanto Company”

“Into The Weeds” tells the story of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a former Bay Area groundskeeper who takes on a multinational agrochemical corporation after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Baichwal follows Johnson through his battle, setting his personal journey against a global environmental crisis. The film will be screened in in P-204 from 11:30 to 2:30pm on Wednesday April 19th and the filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal will be present for a Q&A. If you can't make it for the screening, the film is also viewable on the CBC website for free.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Attend the “Discover the World of Bees” Workshop at JAC

Did you know that JAC has our own bee hives on the roof? Alveole, the group who manages our bee hives, will present this workshop. Bees are behind a third of all the food we eat, including fruit, veggies, chocolate, nuts, and coffee. In this immersive workshop, you’ll learn more about urban beekeeping and the microcosm that is the hive. We’ll follow a bee’s life’s journey from when she first emerges from her cell to her final flight. When: Thursday April 20 from 1-2pm Where: AME-119 Space is limited. Please register by Tuesday April 18

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

ImpAct-Climate Challenge

Go to CICAN's website and submit an action as an individual or a group for the challenge. You can submit more than one action. See details through the link. Prizes to be won. Deadline for submissions: May 31, 2023.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Visit the AGORA on Earth Day (April 18th)

Come by the AGORA on Tuesday, April 18th from 10-2:30 and visit the different tables on display.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Alternative Transportation Day

Try cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions by finding another way to get to campus on April 26th (rain date: April 27th). Walk, bike, take the bus, the train, or carpool with someone!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Education & Livelihood

Organize a Book Club

SDG 4

I will organize a book club to read about climate change and sustainability.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Animals Animate us!

This will be a Sustainable Happiness project which will be launched on Earth Day. The goal is to teach people how pets/animals are important.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Get Involved in the Water Justice Movement

SDG 6

I will spend 30 minutes learning about water justice in my region.

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

Education & Livelihood

Host or Join a Cleanup Event

SDG 11, 17

Within my community at home or work, I will organize or attend a local cleanup event.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG 3

I will replace 30 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Practice Mindfulness

SDG 3

I will spend 15 minutes each day practicing mindfulness.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

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

SDG 3, 5, 10, 16

I will watch 4 documentaries about equity, gender, health, or peace.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Donate Food

SDG 3, 10

I will find out what food programs are in my area and donate food and/or other items that they request.

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

Economy & Communities

Watch a Documentary About Economy, Energy, or Industry

SDG 7, 9, 12

I will watch 3 documentaries about economy, energy, or industry.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Watch a Documentary About Climate Change or Nature

SDG 13, 14, 15

I will watch 3 documentaries about climate change.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Melissa Tomecz 4/30/2023 8:22 PM

Alright y'all! Last checking, here is where our team stands:
Out of 1124 teams participating AROUND THE WORLD, our team came in at #155! Frankly, that's amazing! We just missed the top 100, but I am soooo proud :)
From ALL teams participating in CANADA, JAC Sustainability is #5!
And ... yes. JAC Sustainability is #1 among schools in CANADA! WOOO HOOO! Way to go team! Wonderful effort :)
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. We did GREAT. Share the good news!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Economy & Communities Watch a Documentary About Economy, Energy, or Industry

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

Melissa Tomecz 4/30/2023 7:35 PM

Sadly, I have to admit that I was too ambitious with saying how many documentaries I would watch. I thought I would have time over this weekend to see at least one or two, but that didn't happen. I am planning to watch "Tomorrow", which focuses on renewable energy resources around the world. Then, I would also like to watch "Minimalism: a documentary about important things", which looks at sustainable consumption and how it can still be beneficial economically.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood Host or Join a Cleanup Event

How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?

Melissa Tomecz 4/29/2023 12:42 PM

It really feels like it was a team effort and though I didn't know the people in my group, we got along wonderfully. We were efficient and helped each other out! I met someone who knows someone I work with---so it is a small world, indeed :) I wrote that I picked up 50 pieces of litter, but honestly---after almost two hours, I'm sure it was a hell of a lot more. Lots of fishing gear, plastic, and MANY, MANY cigarette butts :(

Read More
Melissa Tomecz 4/28/2023 6:14 PM

Today is Arbor Day! Which is your favourite tree? Mine is the Willow :)

Read More
- Isabelle Ede 4/29/2023 9:11 AM
  
  Beautiful! I have to agree with you!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health & Equity Watch a Documentary About Equity, Gender, Health, or Peace

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

Melissa Tomecz 4/28/2023 5:53 PM

Besides "Into the Weeds", I also watched 3 short documentaries:
"Living out loud: LGBTQI+ rights in Georgia", "Rising Power: Building an Intersectional Justice Movement in the United States", and "An Unfinished Symphony". The most important thing I learned was that these issues are happening globally and they can all be fixed globally. When you have collaboration, you have peace. When you have peace, you can care for others and become equal. When everyone is equal, the rights of the planet can be focused on together. With a divide, Mother Earth will never heal.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Climate & Ecosystems Alternative Transportation Day

Was this hard for you to do?

Melissa Tomecz 4/27/2023 6:12 PM

Unfortunately, alternative transport just doesn't work well for me. The fact that I come in from the opposite direction than everyone else and the fact that I only start at 10:00 instead of 8:00, scheduling for any type of public transport becomes unfeasible. I would end up being late or having to go in way early. Same for going home. I cannot even carpool because no one in my department starts when I do, who lives near me.

Read More
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?

Melissa Tomecz 4/26/2023 7:02 PM

I didn't watch 3 documentaries, but I did watch two which covered the topic of climate change and nature. I first watched Extinction: The Facts (2020), hosted by David Attenborough. It covered the nature part perfectly and even explained how COVID was caused because humans have started to encroach into animal spaces. The second one I watched was I Am Greta (2020). That perfectly explained how one person could start a global revolution about stopping climate change. Both are awesome films that have morals to teach the world. I only wish those in power could be persuaded.

Read More
- Melissa Tomecz 4/27/2023 6:13 PM
  
  I think he has done almost ALL documentaries! LOL But he's great :)
  
  Read More
- Dalia Todisco 4/26/2023 8:13 PM
  
  David Attenborough has done some amazing documentaries!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Education & Livelihood Organize a Book Club

What book did your group decide to read, and why?

Melissa Tomecz 4/25/2023 1:04 PM

I did a book club based on the theme of climate change and sustainability---which was helpful, since many don't have the time to read one book in a short amount of time. I made it a drop-in event, where people who attended could learn about what others read on the topic. We had lively discussions about what the books focused on. A list was made of all the titles, which will be posted on the school's online portal.

Read More
Melissa Tomecz 4/24/2023 9:39 AM

For anyone who is interested in being part of a shoreline clean-up, an event is being hosted this weekend: April 29th at 10:00am!
Location:
Parc St-Louis (Éco-quartier Lachine)
Boulevard St-Joseph, entre la 32e et la 34e avenue.
For more info and to register:
https://shorelinecleanup.org/cleanups/lqg6m

Read More
- Ivana Tough 4/26/2023 7:41 AM
  
  Oh wow I never would have known!! What a beautiful shoreline indeed!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Basic Needs & Security Watch a Documentary About Food, Water, or Basic Needs

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

Melissa Tomecz 4/23/2023 5:18 PM

I watched Kiss the Ground (2020). It is very optimistic! It discusses how with agriculture, we can be regenerative and bring back fertile soil around the world. It featured important people, such as Paul Hawkin, who explained his Drawdown method. Farming needs to change and become more natural. This type of farming can be done in any location of the world that has even desert conditions. There were many positive examples around the world. It melted my heart. Everyone needs to watch this. So important! And remember: poop is in the loop!

Read More