Andrea Litwak

"Seeing the damaging effects of climate change on the world and everyday life, combined with the lack of urgency that is felt to reverse and prevent climate change leaves me fearful for what is to come for my generation and especially future generations. It takes every individual to make a change, and I am excited to be part of a community that is working together to make a difference. "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
446 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

125

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

400

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

23

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

10

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Andrea's actions

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

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

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Calculate the carbon footprint of my household

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics

I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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
Transportation

How has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?
Andrea Litwak 6/06/2023 1:41 PM
Growing up in Los Angeles, I have always used a car as my main vehicle of transportation. Growing up, I had only been on the bus/metro a few times, and I found it to be frightening as a young child to ride with so many other unknown people, even with my parents. Further, I always saw the public transportation system as dirty and did everything possible to avoid using it. However, this past month, my roommate and I wanted to get breakfast but the uber was $25 to a nearby bagel shop. My roommate suggested we take the bus. Initially, I was very hesitant, but I bought a tap card and agreed to go. I was very surprised by my positive experience, which has motivated me to use the bus more often. Not only did I contribute positively to the environment by not taking an individual uber, but also I saved money. The bus was very clean, and on time. It took us about 15 minutes to get to Santa Monica. After this experience, I now have a new perspective on the public transportation system in LA and will continue to use it more frequently.

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- Talulla Chow 6/07/2023 11:17 PM
  Hi Andrea! I also grew up in LA and understand the reliance on cars for transportation. However, my perspective on transportation shifted dramatically after I arrived at UCLA without a car and a limited budget for transportation expenses. This forced me to explore alternative options, and I discovered that the BruinBus is an excellent and cost-effective choice for students. Surprisingly, during my freshman year, I wasn't even aware that the BruinBus existed, and I would often resort to taking Uber rides with my friends to Santa Monica Beach. But now, knowing that there is a convenient BruinBus route directly to Santa Monica Beach every Saturday, I rely on it instead. It has become my go-to mode of transportation for beach trips and is so much more affordable and sustainable than Ubering.
  
  Additionally, I am excited to learn that starting next year, students will receive free TAP cards. This exciting news opens up even more possibilities for accessible and affordable transportation. These experiences have taught me a valuable lesson: there are usually numerous transportation alternatives available beyond relying on a personal car. However, these alternatives may require some preliminary research, effort, and a learning curve to fully understand how to utilize them effectively.
  
  By exploring these alternative options, I have come to appreciate the wide range of choices available and the importance of proactive investigation. It's empowering to realize that there are multiple ways to navigate the city without solely relying on a car. It encourages me to be more resourceful, to seek out sustainable modes of transportation, and to make informed decisions based on my budget and needs. Overall, this newfound awareness has opened my eyes to the plethora of transportation alternatives that can enhance my mobility and reduce my environmental impact.
  
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- MOLLY MCANDREW 6/06/2023 11:28 PM
  Hi Andrea! I totally get where you're coming from because I'm from Connecticut and I had no idea what public transportation was like in Los Angeles. I had only ever ridden the train to travel to New York or other nearby states on the East Coast. I'd never really taken a bus before. I ran into a similar situation to you and your roommate when my friends and I wanted to have a beach day at Will Rogers. But the Uber was over $30 and nobody had a car. We took a chance, and decided to try out the bus. It was only $1.75 to ride one bus over to the beach and took roughly 30 minutes, which is probably how long it would've taken in a car with traffic. Since that day, I always suggest using the bus to get to Will Rogers. I am super excited to have free transport via busses next year and I hope to try using the bus to explore new parts of LA and visit new locations. I can save money and visit new places, all while decreasing my carbon footprint. I was hesitant not to bring a car to UCLA because it's always been my main form of transportation, but now I'm glad I don't have to worry about parking or maintaining my vehicle. I get to use public transportation and save money in the process. Plus, it's a significant decrease in carbon emissions. Win-win!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

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?
Andrea Litwak 4/26/2023 7:50 PM
Meat is often expensive, and therefore people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places. Not only do people in richer countries have the financial means necessary to consume more meat products, but often, people in developing countries have more respect for animals and do not just see them as a food source. From a nutritional standpoint, consuming less meat is better for our bodies as people who do not eat meat tend to consume fewer calories and less fat compared to people who eat meat. Further, eating meat increases our chances of developing heart disease. Further, cows are a main source of methane, and the more we reduce our meat consumption, the fewer cows have to be produced in order to keep up with the market, reducing methane production. I stopped eating red meat over 10 years ago and have seen many changes in my health. Not only am I helping the environment by not eating red meat, but I also feel better. It is unrealistic to ask everyone to become vegetarian and stop eating meat, but even if we reduce the amount of meat we consume by one meal a day, we are making a big environmental impact.

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- Tony Nguyen 4/28/2023 5:25 PM
  Hey Andrea, thanks for sharing all the great information about red meat consumption! It's made me reflect on my own consumption and the effects it can have on the environment. I recently started to limit the amount of red meat I consume on a weekly basis for health reasons. But knowing how this simple act can help to prevent many other issues that arise is reassuring. I'm not sure if I'm ready to cut it completely out of my diet yet, but understanding the positive outcomes from limiting my own consumption is motivating!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Andrea Litwak 4/20/2023 1:39 PM
I use plastic grocery bags and plastic coffee cups on a regular basis. Both of these single-use items have replacements that are very accessible, and that I already own. I will make a conscious effort to bring reusable totes and bags to the grocery store when I go shopping to avoid having to use single-use plastic bags. I will also make an effort to use a mug or a reusable cup when drinking coffee every day. Not only are these replacements helpful for the environment, but also a better option for my health. Most plastic and paper coffee cups contain BPA, a harmful chemical for the human body. By using mugs instead, I will reduce the amount of BPA that I am putting into my body. Further, an insulated reusable cup will also keep my coffee warm for a longer period of time compared to a paper cup which is a small added bonus.

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- Daniela Carvajal 5/01/2023 5:19 PM
  Hi Andrea! You make a great point that most single-use items now have reusable replacements. I own a tote bag as well as a reusable cup and reusable straw. Even though I own these items I often forget them when they are needed so I end up using the plastic items. I will definitely try to be more careful and mindful when I go out and so I make sure I carry my reusable items to a point where it just becomes routine.
  
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- Meichen Chen 4/21/2023 4:17 PM
  Hi Andrea, I agree with your points on reusable grocery bags and reusable cups! I sometimes forget to bring tote bags to the grocery store as well, but I've been more conscious about this and I try to place my bags close to my front door (so I don't forget on the way out). Some other single-use items I use a lot are plastic saran wrap and plastic ziploc bags. Like you said, these items are horrible for the environment, and I have been trying to use more eco-friendly replacements, such as reusable beeswax wraps and reusable ziploc bags.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Andrea Litwak 4/20/2023 1:23 PM
I usually drive to Westwood Village in the morning to get coffee, however, this week, I decided to walk instead of driving. During my walk, I was able to pay better attention to my surroundings and learn more about my neighborhood. I discovered places that I have never seen before, even after living here for two years. I realized how easy it is to walk, and that it even takes less time to walk than it usually takes me to drive, and that it is more cost-efficient. Not only am I helping reduce emissions, but I am also saving money on gas and parking. Further, I felt more awake and physically better after my walk than I usually do when I drive. After my positive experience walking, I have now motivated my roommate to walk with me as well, and I have thoroughly enjoyed walking with her and having time to talk about subjects other than school.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Andrea Litwak 4/20/2023 1:08 PM
When I sit down to eat, I usually use it as a time to also catch up on lectures or watch tv. I notice that when I do so, I feel full and tired afterward as I am not actively paying attention to the food I am consuming and how fast I am consuming it since my mind is focused on another task. However, I have made a point to practice mindful eating and have noticed a big difference in the way I feel. I have been setting aside time to focus on mindfully eating without other distractions. It provides me with a good break to reset and be fueled to continue my work afterward, but I also feel less full and more satisfied. I am able to understand when I am really full instead of just continuing to eat without giving my body time to digest the food. It is often difficult to set aside time to eat mindfully as a busy student, but doing so has also helped me be more productive afterward. I highly recommend implementing mindful eating into your everyday life!

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