Krystle Lopez

The five sustainability actions I have focused on are:

1. Reduce single-use disposables:
Reducing single-use plastic items will be my primary goal on a daily basis. I have already eliminated the choice of using a straw unless its offered as paper, reduced opting for plastic bags in supermarkets and outdoors. In addition, I am continuing to learn from the 'Tips to Use Less Plastic'. 

This is important to me as I see the amount of plastic bottles, trash, bags of chips and cups thrown in piles on the service road, entering highways, on abandoned properties and much more. Even more so, knowing that the selfish and ignorant behavior of litters who feel it is not their responsibility to clean up after themselves and use the local streets, beaches and earth to throw away their garbage is upsetting. This action is relevant to me as I care about the earth I live on and its well being.  

2. Go paperless
 I have decided to take on this action as I realized my household receives a lot of junk mail. I have began logging into the business accounts where I receive mail from and have opted for 'Paperless' and will contact the additional parties that send mail-offers to discontinue any additional letters to eliminate the waste of paper as majority of the time the letters being sent are fliers, garbage, or unnecessary mail. This action is relevant to me as I would like to minimize the use of wasted paper.
 
3. Advocate for more packaging options:

I chose to advocate for alternatives to single use packing at only two locations near me as I only visit two supermarkets in my area. I do feel that the two supermarkets can update their performance on how they receive and sell their items in terms of minimizing plastic products that are wasteful. I definitely believe I will have to conduct the proper research in order to present an acceptable proposal to them with tips, suggestions and guide for them to make a sustainable for their business and the environment while keeping their clients happy and profits increasing.
 
This action is relevant to me as grocery stores, delis and convenient stores sell their packing in options that harm the environment and contribute to the pollution in the world.
 With there services provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering them a tip on how to change their selling methods and give a new layout to there stock produce in options such as barrels of recycled plastic while presenting a new layout to the store would boost appearance, confidence and hopefully foot traffic in their store.
 
4. Choose LED Bulbs

I have taken on this action to replace eight of my light bulbs at home with LED lights as this will be beneficial for the environment and cost-effective for me in the long run.

5. Support companies leading in green energy.

I have selected this action because these are the companies taking action to fulfill change in a world crisis. As a student and a consumer, I feel it is my duty to reward and show my gratitude towards their action and service of making better decisions using renewable electricity through their operations. 

6. Watch a video about Methane Digesters. 

This video was quite interesting as it explains how everyday waste's such as manure, dining hall food wastes and bio solids can be generated into renewable energy. As reported on Drawdown.org, small versions of Methane Digesters are already being used around the world in places like peoples backyards, farms, and across the world in Asia (Methane Digesters). Recreating a demand for this project can lead to sustainable measures for both the environment and individuals around the world, reducing some of the global warming greenhouse gas emissions by not using this treatment method. 

 

 

Money-Pink Floyd

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpbbuaIA3Ds  

I felt this song was a great pick as Milton Friedmans perspective on corporations who only sought out profits and not portraying social responsibility, as this song shares the perspective and message of how society and the system 'train' us into prepping ourselves to make money. The lyrics short and simple are direct but hold a message between the lines. 

The message in turn is that money is a fuel and helps run things. The individual in the song feels as though they've earned what they have and does not need to share as no one else has earned it. The statement...
"Money, it's a crime
share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie"
... means that everyone deserves a little bit of money, but just don't take it from my money, similarly to how everyone believes better healthcare and funding should be offered and served, but us individuals do not want to pay higher taxes (Ceccherini, P. 2020). 

Reference:
Ceccherini, P. (2020, April 19). Money - Pink Floyd - Lyrics Meaning. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from https://www.planckmachine.com/pink-floyd-money-lyrics-meaning/
 

For the Eco-Challenge I have selected Recycling. I believe recycling plays a significant role in helping make a change in the world towards climate change. As reported on the Project Drawn Down, recycling can take place in many locations but can be started and maintained in a home. Recycling is an effective way to re-purpose paper/materials once used, eliminates additional trees being cut, reduces water usage and can reduce emissions in the air that affect climate change. As reported in the solution summary we as a society are using far more materials quicker than the earth can actually regenerate.