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TALIA DINI's avatar

TALIA DINI

Blue and Gold Greenies

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 455 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    225
    minutes
    spent exercising
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    being mindful
  • UP TO
    15
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    3.0
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    86
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    75
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    15
    miles
    traveled by bus
  • UP TO
    60
    minutes
    spent outdoors

TALIA's actions

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Tend A Garden

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transportation

Use Public Transit

Public Transit

I will use public transit 10 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Eat Mindfully

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transportation

Stay on the Ground

Telepresence, High-Speed Rail

Instead of traveling by plane, I will find an alternative way to accomplish the goals of an upcoming trip (i.e. telepresence, vacation locally).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

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
    Action Track: Healing & Renewal Tend A Garden
    Have you ever had a significant experience in nature that altered your perspective or focus? If so, please describe it.

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 5/25/2023 7:19 PM
    One experience in nature that altered my perspective occurred when I was in high school. I went with my classmates on a wilderness trip to Santa Cruz Island for a period of five days. During this trip, I got the chance to truly connect with nature. I continuously pushed my boundaries especially when taking on challenges such as a 10 mile hike and sleeping in tents. This experience truly shifted my perspective especially when appreciating the nature surrounding me without distractions such as phones, social media, and mirrors.

    • Meichen Chen's avatar
      Meichen Chen 5/26/2023 11:16 AM
      Hi Talia, love your response! This reminds me about my trip with my classmates to the Santa Cruz mountains. Even though this trip was during sixth grade for me, one experience that I still remember was the night that we laid on the forest ground and looked up at the stars. Before that point, I don't think I'd ever seen a night sky without light pollution and smog before, and I realized just how serene and beautiful it is to be far away from a city. Ever since that trip, I've really appreciated any camping trips I take, and I always make it a point to look at the night sky since I can't do that on my regular day to day. That trip also taught me to respect nature more and appreciate any areas that haven't been urbanized. One way I show my respect is by not leaving trash in any campsites or on any trails, or by picking up any trash I see along the way.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle
    Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 5/23/2023 1:49 PM
    Reducing exhaust emissions would extremely be beneficial in helping solve the climate crisis. Another major motivator that has inspired me to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle includes lower maintenance costs. This incorporates oil changes never being required and an extension of the lifespan of brake pads through regenerative braking. One more reason I have been motivated to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle includes fuel prices. Specifically in Los Angeles, the cost of fuel is extremely high. With the lower cost of electrical charging and the growing availability of public charging situations, switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle definitely seems like the right move to make.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Stay on the Ground
    What was your process like for restructuring your trip? How can you avoid more air travel in the future?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 5/15/2023 7:14 PM
    I was recently supposed to fly to Berkeley, however, I restructured my trip and instead, traveled by car. Since Berkeley is only about a 6 hour drive from Los Angeles, it wasn't too difficult of a drive. However, when traveling to New York for example, this task may be a lot more strenuous and would take up much more time. In the future, I can avoid more air travel by driving to other states that are not too far such as Arizona and Oregon. I must also remember that logistically, I could travel by car to states on the east coast but only with ample time.
  • 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?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 5/04/2023 9:57 AM
    Knowing the difference between use-by, sell-by, and best-by dates will empower me to make better decisions because I will no longer let items that are perfectly fine to consume, go to waste. Previously, I was not aware that use by and best by dates are not safety dates. I thought that if I had not consumed the product by that date, I had to throw it out. However, I have recently learned that a "use-by" date is the last date of recommended use of the product while at peak quality and a "best-by" date indicates when the product will be of the best flavor. Thus, knowing that I can still consume products past their best-by and use-by dates will lead me to waste less food.

    • Indy Bui's avatar
      Indy Bui 5/05/2023 8:29 PM
      Hey Talia, I totally did not know any of this before. Even though I've always smelled foods before cooking or eating them, I have mostly followed these -by rules. I didn't realize that food was still good a decent amount of time after the use-by or best-by dates. In general, I do try and buy foods as close to the current date as possible, but in the future I may try and expand this range a bit. It definitely makes me feel better knowing that the food is not considered unsafe after these recorded dates. I definitely used to get grossed out by food after the use-by date even though it smelled completely fine.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Use Public Transit
    How has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 5/01/2023 1:47 AM
    Being born and raised in Los Angeles, my primary form of transportation has been driving. Given that I have access to a car, I have found it to be extremely helpful especially given the fact that Los Angeles isn't as keen on public transportation and biking as other cities. However, after making use of public transportation, I have recently learned the many advantages that come with it. This includes meeting new people and having more time to complete tasks. I never before considered the time I waste by sitting in traffic and driving. By riding the bus for example, I can use that time more efficiently as my hands will be free.

    • Roy Song's avatar
      Roy Song 5/04/2023 12:57 PM
      Hi Talia, it's great to know that you are enjoying your experiences with using public transportations! I used to dislike them at first because it takes longer time and feels cumbersome to use them instead of cars, I agree that it frees up my time to do other tasks or even relax because I don't have to focus like when I am driving. I have been trying to use more buses to as I feel that LA bus system is active enough to help me get to places, and I have been enjoying as well.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Reduce Animal Products
    Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 4/29/2023 4:24 PM
    People in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places because as income rises, individuals are more capable of purchasing a wide variety of products. Eating more meat is definitely harming our planet. The production and consumption of meat is leading to greater green-house emissions being released into the environment. Furthermore, production and consumption of animal products is one of the top feeders into the climate crisis making it imperative that individuals change to more plant-based diets.

    • Roy Song's avatar
      Roy Song 5/04/2023 12:54 PM
      I agree with your responses. I feel that people are able to enjoy luxurious meals including meat because they have more capabilities to buy them. I learned somewhere that as you go to poorer countries, the price for meat rises while the quality decreases at the same time, making it a lot harder for them to enjoy meat. I think your point about production and consumption is very good because they do require lots of resources and lands that contribute to climate crisis, manly through greenhouse gas emissions. I also think too much meat-based meals make people unhealthier, and it is both not good for the individuals themselves and the rest of the world as more resources are required.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Healing & Renewal Go for a Daily Walk
    What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 4/16/2023 5:16 PM
    I have started walking everywhere possible. Besides walking to and from campus daily, I also have started going on daily walks where I walk around my neighborhood and to Westwood Village. On my daily walks, I have noticed beautiful scenery and have really taken the time to appreciate nature. I have enjoyed the physical exercise aspect of it as well. Some infrastructure changes that could make my walks more enjoyable would possibly be the creation of greater sidewalks. I have noticed some sidewalks are extremely narrow making it difficult to comfortably walk on them.

    • Grace Chang's avatar
      Grace Chang 4/16/2023 9:05 PM
      Hi Talia,

      That's honestly really cool how you take daily walks for leisure (quite frankly, the only time you'll ever find me walking around is to commute to class, so I should work on this). Are there any specific routes that you recommend taking or any particular neighborhoods?

      I do have to say, however, that the several instances I was down by the apartments (and away from the Hill), I really enjoyed the serenity and flora. It's a breath of fresh air compared to to overwhelmingly packed Hill.

      I completely agree about your statement regarding the sidewalks; I feel like there are already accessibility issues due to the narrow and uneven pavement (not to mention all the scooters loitering the sidewalks as well). Additionally, due to the parking situation for a lot of apartments, we often have to walk in between cars to pass, which can cause congestion if there's several people attempting to go through.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Healing & Renewal Eat Mindfully
    Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?

    TALIA DINI's avatar
    TALIA DINI 4/10/2023 10:59 AM
    This weekend, I focused on eating without distractions. My eating experience differed when practicing mindfulness because I enjoyed the food that I was eating more and could really take time to focus on myself. By not being distracted while eating, I really do feel that my psychological well-being was increased.