SMART SEAFOOD CHOICES:
After researching this topic to a small degree, it seems clear to me that not all fish are the same in terms of their environmental impact. some types of fish are significantly more costly to farm than others (per gram of protein that we get from them.) According to Wholely.com, the worst offenders for the environment are catfish, lobster, and shrimp farms, whereas farms for shellfish and mollusks are typically significantly (almost 20x) better for the environment. As a result from this learning, I pledge right here and now to consume minimal catfish. lobster and shrimp going forward.
https://wholey.com/resources/healthy-eating/can-you-eat-fish-without-harming-the-environment/#:~:text=Second%2C%20what%20tools%20were%20used,but%20they%20taste%20better%2C%20too.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:
I have been researching on the Colorado Parks & Wildlife threatened and endangered species list, and I was particularly focused on the amphibians and fish species (such as the Razorback Sucker or the Couch's Spadefoot) that are becoming endangered due to human development of dams and the various chemicals that we pump into freshwater streams. These dams block waterways that these fish and amphibians typically use for breeding/ inhabiting and the chemicals that we pump into their streams can disrupt their endocrine systems, which can cause infertility. While we cant do anything to disassemble various dams across Colorado (without endangering human lives/ homes) we can choose to not use endocrine disrupting chemicals to help out our fishy friends. These types of chemicals typically include things like pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, cleaning agents, cosmetics, antibiotics, contraceptives, and illicit drugs, so when using these products be sure to check their contents before entering a waterway where these animals could be affected.

https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/SOC-ThreatenedEndangeredList.aspx
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/pesticides_reduction/endocrine_disruptors/index.html

In honor of Earth day yesterday, I joined the neighborhood effort to clean up our local greenway! It was as easy as taking the dog for walk and bringing and bag (and a glove, some of that trash was nas-ty!) to pick up trash along the way. It was so easy and something I hope I will do every once in a while outside of an organized event!

In honor of Earth Day yesterday, I attempted a zero waste day. I could not believe how hard it was! I was extremely confident going into the challenge that I was going to breeze through it, only to find myself going to the trash can again and again all day. It's easy to be conscious about obvious waste substitutes (such as using a reusable shopping bag instead of getting a paper or plastic one), but things like paper towels, dental floss, and grocery receipts (and even junk mail showing up in your mail box!) were killer. I also touched a lot of items that were "not waste yet", such as plastic fruit containers or milk cartons in my fridge that weren't empty yet. Sure they weren't trash at the moment, but it got me thinking about what other choices I could make to specifically reduce plastic waste in my home. Overall, it was an extremely eye opening experience and certainly made me more conscious of the waste I produce on an average day, let alone a bad one!!!

STAY ON THE GROUND
I have reconstructed my trip to Brookings South Dakota to see my little brother's graduation. I was wavering over whether or not to drive/ fly to this event, but this final reminder was exactly what I needed to hear to decide how to travel. Thanks Ecochallenge

RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER AND OCEANS:
I had no idea how incredibly impact, and inspiring that the ocean was to our everyday life. According to Ocean Conservation Trust, " From mermaids to the kraken, the Ocean has been fascinating humans for centuries. It is difficult to imagine what it must have been like to set off across the Ocean without knowing ‘what was on the other side’, or even if you might fall off of the world!" Imaging the mystery and intriguing sight that the ocean must have been to humans throughout several generations is truly awe inspiring. Now that humans have a better control over the world, we typically take things like the water cycle or oceanic diversity for granted; however, we do this to our peril because the ocean is beyond vital for our everyday health. From the foods that we eat, to the air we breath, to our mental wellbeing(think about the therapeutic landscape, or the beneficial sounds of the ocean) the ocean has been providing for humanity since our inception, and as the species with the ability to change/ manipulate the world we need to be conscientious about how we care for our oceans.

https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-advocacy/think-ocean/why-is-the-ocean-important/

Wanted to give a belated shout-out to Seth Harris! He prepared a great presentation highlighting sustainable initiatives our customers are undertaking and how Emerson is supporting and enabling their efforts. It made me feel proud to participate in such an organization, that not only promotes sustainability internally, but it is also working with other organizations to make the world a better place for future generations. Seth, you rock! Thank you for all you do and for continuing to build this culture within our teams.