Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Kevyn Carter-Long

Asheville High School Spring 2021

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
330 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

227

minutes

spent learning

Kevyn's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 15 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 10 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

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?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/11/2020 11:17 AM

Healthy and sustainable home and community gardens, methane digester(s) that would provide for the whole community, public places to share/use bikes, more materials are being reused for things like benches, pathways, railings, fences, etc. The investment of time and care for these kind of things is what makes the difference. Most of these are not hard to accomplish. Also funding always helps.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/09/2020 4:12 PM

I have never heard of silvopasture before this assignment. I think the fact that it counteracts methane emissions and sequesters livestock better than other grassland techniques is a HUGE advantage, because of how beneficial that is to the planet. Health and productivity of the land and animals is a great plus.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/04/2020 7:24 PM

Within government positions. There has 100% been improvement and there are a lot of women in positions of power, but on more state or local levels (especially in the south) there are still barriers. Though there aren’t as many examples of inequality that are like bright neon lights, a lot of people still have mindsets of gender superiority or subconscious beliefs negatively regarding gender equality (again, especially in the south).

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/04/2020 11:38 AM

Find replacements for products that I use that contain palm oil (cleaning products and cosmetics). Try and find alternatives to food that has palm oil (most processed foods).

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn about Temperate Forests

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/04/2020 9:55 AM

I’ve always tried my best to be environmentally conscious--especially with my actions. There are so many issues the world is facing, on a global scale and a communal scale, but protecting the environment is one of the most important things that needs to be addressed. We won’t be able to solve any of our other problems if we don’t have a planet to live on anymore.
The longer/hotter droughts and heat waves, the wildfires, and the outbreaks are so dangerous and it’s kind of overwhelming to think about ways to help. Thinking of direct solutions is a whole other level that is really intense.
The carbon sinks and restoration aspects of the forests.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?

Kevyn Carter-Long 12/04/2020 9:15 AM

We are making strides across the US, small steps are needed, but there is still a lot of work and effort needed to keep people reproductively healthy. Contraceptives at low to no cost is a great thing to have, but it’s not mainstream and honestly shouldn’t be something that is needed as a step in general. They should be free anyway. Family planning services need to have easier access, child support is key, as well as knowledge and information. In many places people are unaware of these kinds of things that could make their lives easier and safer. In the US we are taking steps in the right direction, with the spread of information especially, but in developing areas (etc), these things aren’t general knowledge and support is not a given.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Kevyn Carter-Long 11/24/2020 11:44 AM

I don’t drink coffee, I don’t eat/drink a lot of dairy, I don’t eat a ton of chocolate but I do occasionally, but a lot of the desserts I tend to eat have palm oil in them. I don’t eat as much meat as I used to since my dad became a vegetarian but I still eat meat on a regular basis. I can look into using olive oil rather than cooking sprays and look at our cleaning supplies as well. Baking soda and vinegar are easy to get and are better for the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Kevyn Carter-Long 11/23/2020 6:55 PM

The dates that show up on my food/products are not about safety. I will be more relaxed with how far past the date it is, while still maintaining a couple days to a week as my time period to finish off the food.

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