Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Finlay Graham

Asheville High School Spring 2021

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
625 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

212

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people

Finlay's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 11 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

All Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

I will spend at least 25 minutes researching other Drawdown Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Healing & Renewal

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Choose LED Bulbs

LED Lighting

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 13 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 24 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

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

Industry

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 8 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 3 friends, family and/or colleagues.

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).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 14 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 26 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 18 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

Choose Better Wood Products

Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 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
Land Sinks Choose Better Wood Products

Beyond carbon sequestration, what other benefits do forests offer you personally?

Finlay Graham 12/09/2020 8:14 AM

Trees produce a chemical cocktail that surrounds them constantly. In addition to serving the trees' purposes, these chemicals boost the mood of other creatures that spend time with them, which is one way of considering the benefits of "getting some fresh air."

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 12/08/2020 12:43 PM

I have not heard of silvopasture before now and did not consider it to be a possibility, but now having heard of it, it seems remarkably simple and easy to implement. I think that its greatest advantage is its ability to both sequester the greenhouse gases produced by the livestock that graze within the pasture and protect and enrich the businesses themselves through varied gains as well as more enriched forage.

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 12/04/2020 8:02 AM

A sustainable community would be able to utilize its most plentiful resources in ways that are sustainable for the future and do not produce challenges for others. This community would be able to utilize all natural phenomena and their own waste to create what they need. This community recognizes that if someone patented trees as enriching soil, producing food, cleaning the air around, providing shade, and attracting wildlife, they would become a millionaire. This community would probably take a while to achieve, but it could recognize that every little investment and every little change leads it to a brighter future.

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 12/03/2020 10:07 AM

Family planning is a human right. When 45% of pregnancies in the US are unintended, it is crazy to think of the unwanted pregnancies in developing countries. Unwanted pregnancies can be prevented by improvements of education and contraception access of women. When these pregnancies are prevented, it has the same carbon impact for future generations as solar power.

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 12/02/2020 8:00 AM

I want to change the way that I think about things and how I go about my life. I want to try and understand the ways in which my actions contribute to environmental challenges, particularly the destruction of important ecosystems, such as peat lands and temperate rain forests. It is overwhelming that so many of these things feel out of my control and in the hands of large companies that run only on money. I am glad that there are so many people who are learning about these issues and hopefully going on to make changes and convince others, and I hope that I can join them.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Finlay Graham 12/01/2020 10:50 AM

I am most concerned about the continued utilization of methods and materials that are known to cause damage to climates. Often these can be implemented in areas and turn more of a profit than the currently used methods. It is, however, understandable that certain countries or organizations wouldn’t have the money to manage the first implementation, but it is plenty possible to think beyond the short term and begin to better understand more sustainable energy, products, and methods.

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 12/01/2020 10:37 AM

You can try to minimize monocrop resource utilization by not using palm oil or paper as much so that peatlands aren’t drained for monocropping. Trying to advocate for or or not use peat as a form of energy also can help preserve these areas.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?

Finlay Graham 11/30/2020 11:23 AM

I learned that the leading cause of releasing of HCFC and other harmful chemicals into the air largely comes from improper recycling of such appliances.

Read More
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?

Finlay Graham 11/30/2020 10:59 AM

Women are so often silenced or ignored, particularly women in poverty. Most girls in poverty are married off by the age of 14 and are pregnant by 15. Those girls then might have to turn to prostitution for the money that they need to support their family, all of which is a problem that can be solved with advocacy and education.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Explore Other Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Finlay Graham 11/24/2020 11:21 AM

I found out that soy contributes to deforestation, often through use in animal food. I also learned that palm oil is in almost everything food-related.

Read More