Dayanira Monge

In a Tedtalk given by Charles Massy, he discusses the ways in which regenerative farming can help heal the planet and help aid the human health crisis. Prior to learning more about this issue, I did not know the importance of incorporating regenerative farming techniques into our agriculture, let alone did I know about the effects industrial farming has on our environment as a whole.

And although prioritizing clean air, water, and healthy food are all good reasons as to why we should care about this issue, but it is also important to understand the ways in which regenerative farming aids our environment and health. Because supply and demand for produce is always increasing, industrial farmers have resorted to using pesticides and other chemicals to treat their soil. In return this has created a codependency within the plants and the soil in which they can no longer grow without the help of additional chemicals. So how does this affect us? Currently, we are in the middle of the anthropocene period in which there has been an increase in diseases due to the decline in nutrients found within our fruits and vegetables. Our immune systems are also in decline. An orange from today's era does not have the same nutritional value as an orange from twenty years ago.

Soil does not hold its value unless properly taken care of.  Many places that once were used for agriculture have lost their value because the soil no longer held nutrients to grow anything planted on them. Because of industrial farming, more and more agricultural spaces are turning into deserts, directly affecting our ecosystem. In ecological literacy, there are five main components that must be sustained if we plan on healing our planet: Solar function, the water cycle, soil nutrient cycle, dynamic ecosystem communities, and human-social interactions. By disrupting one, all the rest will be affected. Regenerative agriculture aims at regulation carbon levels in order to not disrupt the chain, thus helping heal the land rather than destroy it. 

Agriculture also affects us on a genetic level. If more CO2 gasses are released into the air because of industrial farming, our future generations will be affected even before they leave their mother's wombs. Pregnant women will only be able to supply their infants with breastmilk that contain these environmental toxins. Food that lack nutrients will also affect and alter the dynamic of our gut microbiome.

I think regenerative agriculture will help reduce the amount of CO2 gasses and provide is with quality produce. Within my community, regenerative agriculture could possibly help diminish the amount of unnourished children since their mothers will provide breastmilk that is not heavily contaminated with these toxins. 

It is no secret that human activity is the cause to many of our environmental issues. Several methods of transportation, such as cars and airplanes, release a significant amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that pollute the air. In fact a lot of our daily actions, cough cough online shopping, also increase our carbon footprint, so what can we do to solve this issue?

In attempt to destroy greenhouse gasses before they are released into the atmosphere, several organizations have created carbon offsets as a form of trade. You purchase offsets according to your carbon footprint  and projects dedicated to this issue collect and destroy potent greenhouse gasses around the world, ensuring that they will not be released into the atmosphere. These projects are funded with money that they receive from people who purchase carbon offset credits from them. 

However, there are several factors that one should consider before purchasing  an offset. There are many different types of projects out there that also aim at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. From projects aiming at forest conservation  to the collection of refrigerants, it is important to find a project that best resonates with your personal goals and beliefs. According to Tradewater prior to purchasing carbon offset credits, one should consider the verification, responsibility conduct, ease, additionality, and verification of the project you are considering. 

Prior to attending UCLA, I was never truly conscious about the amount of single use products that I was using. I would simply consume coffee in plastic containers, ask for straws at every restaurant I went to, and would opt for disposable plates and cups because I was too lazy to do the dishes. My acts of selfishness were influenced by convenience and my own ignorance is the reason why so many sea creatures have had their homes polluted with plastic and other garbage. 

Although my time living on the hill was cut short, I did notice that my lifestyle and the choices I was making changed. Whether it was peer pressure or the desire to understand the hype, I purchased a blue hydro flask from the UCLA store and no longer purchased bottled water. Instead I would refill my hydro at any water fountain near me. In the beginning, my roommates and I would alternate turns to purchase cases of bottled water but eventually we upgraded to a Brita, which not only eliminated the struggle of carry water cases up two flights of stairs (our elevator did not work) but it also helped us reduce the amount of waste we were producing. If you've lived on the hill, or simply walked on campus, you know that trashcans are sprinkled around campus because UCLA has a goal of becoming zero waste. These trashcans are divided into recyclables, compost, and trash. Beforehand, I never took the time to separate my trash and properly dispose of it, but coming to UCLA held me more accountable. I was constantly sorting out the trash in my dorm because I wanted to make sure that everything was disposed of correctly. As I mentioned before, I am a HUGE coffee addict and the fact that we had a Starbucks within walking distance of campus did not alleviate this issue. To make matters worse, Starbucks would frequently have happy hours every Thursday and my friend and I would always made time to go. It took me a whole quarter to finally make the switch. I purchased a venti size tumbler from Starbucks and would request to have my drinks made in that cup rather than in a disposable one.  Doing this, reduced the amount of single use plastics that I was using and it made me feel slightly less guilty about my waste.

But then Covid hit. Regulations were placed in many stores and Starbucks was no longer allowing you to bring in your reusable cup. Although we were forced to use single use containers (rightfully so), this goes to show how being zero waste is not accessible to everyone. I acknowledge that I am privileged enough to afford a venti size reusable cup from Starbucks or even a Brita filtering system, but not everyone can afford to make those choices. However, it doesn't hurt to try. I am constantly encouraging my family members to not drink bottled water or to use reusable bags instead of plastic ones. And although this change is small, doing something is better than contributing to the issue. 

According to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch people living in the United States should avoid eating Bass Striped and Tuna yellowfin.  In addition to a list of the seafood we should be avoiding, the MBASW also provides a detailed list of alternatives and foods that are safe to consume, varying from region to region. Recently, they came out with an updated list that labeled "Tuna Bigeye" and "Tuna Skipjack" as the best choice for seafood consumption for the upcoming month. This action caught my attention because I am a huge fan of seafood since my family comes from a region where seafood consumption is extremely popular/common. Based on these guidelines, my seafood consumption would not be considered harmful because I don't consume large amounts of salmon, in fact I'm not really a fan of its flavor. But after reading more about this issue, it has led me to question my eating habits on whether they are eco friendly or not.

In order to make smarter seafood choices, it is important to be educated about fishing regulations and where our food is coming from. Most of the time, I go to a grocery store and order a couple pounds of shrimp or tilapia and go on with my day. I do not stop and question the quality of my food nor do I pay any attention to how it got inside my grocery store. The other day I was peeling and deveining some shrimp and I noticed that the quality was not the best and I came to the conclusion that I probably purchased shrimp that was frozen for a while. Back in Mexico, specifically in the state where my family and I are from, it is very common to see fishermen all over the city selling fresh seafood.  I think that by supporting smaller vendors, we can ensure the quality of the food we consume but in a way we are also not supporting big fishery chains that are the cause to the decline in some of these species. Although local fish markets are not as accessible to me as the ones in Mexico, I strongly believe that I have to make a bigger effort to shop locally as opposed to shopping from a grocery chain. 

When I was reading the article that is linked to this eco challenge, I couldn't help but make connections back to my ecology class that I am taking this quarter. I think the harvesting of salmon, if done correctly, can be highly beneficial to the environment. Since salmon are classified as a keystone species, its extinction will disrupt many ecosystems, thus it's important to look for ways in which we can prevent this from happening, The first major threat is supply and demand. Because salmon are highly packed with nutrients and a unique flavor, many people are drawn towards the consumption of these fish. So what can we do about it? A way we can approach this situation is by voting for policies that protect our fish. We need to advocate for better regulations because at the end of the day, we will be affected by this issue. Salmon feed our forests, tear down dams (which are not eco friendly and several studies have shown ways in which dams actually increase the amount of greenhouse gasses being released), they sustain cultures, and help shape our landscape. 

Although I am bound to turn 20 in a couple of months and there's so much more for me to accomplish, the question of whether I want to have children in the future is inevitable. And if I am being honest, it is never easy for me to answer. Granted if you were to ask me right now If I wanted to have kids I would immediately say "No" without hesitating. But who knows maybe in 10 years my answer will change. But you know what else will change in the next 10 year? Our climate. 

Children are a huge responsibility. They require so much time and the expenses associated with them is high, not to mention the amount of waste they produce (i.e. diapers, baby wipes, formula containers, etc.). These are all the things I factor in when answering the infamous question, "Do you want any children in the future?". But what I failed to consider is the impact that having more children has on the environment. More children simply means more carbon emissions and what good is it to bring a child into this world if by the time they reach my current age, the world will be hotter and the air quality unbearable. Therefore, family planning is vital and should be incorporated into our education systems as early as high school. 

In a TedTalk about, "How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming", Katharine Wilkinson discusses the importance of family planning, stating that it is a way to address women's needs from all over the world. In different parts of the globe, women are rushed into marriage and often start families at a young age because they were not aware or properly informed about their options. Preventative measures, such as birth control, are not globally accessible to everyone, let alone abortions. Giving women access to family planning and health education allows for the advancement of equity. 

So why exactly is family planning important? With our ever changing climate, it is safe to say that in 20 years our environment will be hotter and our air quality will probably be worse than what it is today. Bringing more human beings into this world would mean that the demand for resources would increase. This could cause food shortages or water scarcity, leading to malnourished children. Essentially, family planning is a preventative and responsible measure. If everyone incorporated some form of family planning into their lives prior to conceiving a child, we could potentially curve the growth of human population.

The fight for gender equity is a challenge that can be found within the foundation of many organizations. Whether it be in politics, at our jobs or in the crevices of our own homes, gender inequality can be found. To say that women have a disadvantage in life would be an understatement. And just like Katherine Wilkinson mentioned in her TedTalk, by empowering women and providing them with better education we can make a global impact and possibly slow the growth of global warming.

I chose to participate in this challenge because it reminded me of the girls I had encountered in a summer program that took place in Africa. During the duration of this camp, I developed close friendships with some of these young women and I learned more about the challenges they faced. Many of them told me that most towns lacked menstrual products and most of the times girls would skip school, or drop out entirely, because they did not have access to a basic human need. In many places, feminine hygiene products are considered a luxury and are not seen as a necessity. In return, this causes the prices of these items to go up and those who are less fortunate have to decide whether to spend their money on food or on pads. And because most girls drop out due to this issue, they can no longer continue their education and often resort to marriage.

Educating women has a positive effect on everyone, even our environment. Statistics show that by education women they are given the chance to navigate climate change through family planning. Giving women the choice of whether or not, and when, they want to have children is a way to curve the growth of the human population. Having less children essentially means that the demand for food won't be as high as it would be if women started giving birth at a young age. Essentially, the demand for transportation and electricity would decrease, thus reducing carbon emissions significantly.

Therefore, it is important to improve our education systems. Sex Ed fails adolescents. I cannot emphasize the importance of being informed about your health and the things that come with participating in any form of sexual activities, but more so for women. Educating women about their bodies and how to take care of them at a young age is vital because it gives her control of her body.

When I go to the store to purchase a feminine hygiene product, I do not take it for granted because I know that there are other girls in the world who are skipping school because they lack necessary resources. A way we can overcome these barriers is through donations. I've previously participated in drives that collected items for women but today I made a donation to the attached organization. However, donations are not the only solution to this problem. We could also teach young women how to make their own reusable pads. Not only is this eco friendly, but it is a very simple process. I encourage you all to donate (if you can) and support organizations that give back some of their profits to help women get access to menstrual products, because a woman's ability to menstruate should not be the reason why they have to sacrifice their education.

Another habit that I picked up during quarantine was ordering takeout every week. And when I say every week, I mean every single Friday. It was always a 10pc wing combo from Wingstop, a venti Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks, or a pizza from Pizzahut. The problem is that there would be so much waste left after I finished eating. There would always be fries tossed into the trash and single use plastic containers in the garbage bins. Eventually, my bank account started to feel the weight of those precious lemon pepper wings or cajun seasoned fries so I decided to welcome the year with a new resolution. In attempt to reduce my waste and save money, I started meal planning. I would cook a week's worth of food on a Sunday night and package them in small containers that held better serving portions. I quickly began to notice a change in my lifestyle. Not only was I enjoying the process of cooking the food, but I was not wasting any food nor was I tossing away single use containers. It also improved my mental health because cooking and packaging these meals gave me a much needed break from zoom and it made me feel good about myself.

[below is a picture of some of the meals I have cooked for myself. I am no chef so please don't judge. I do recommend meal planning because it saves so much money and it reduces waste. ]

Over time, I developed the bad habit of eating while using my phone to watch a TV show, scroll on tik tok, or keep up with my YouTube subscriptions. I never took the time to enjoy the food I was consuming because I was too busy being consumed by a glowing screen. Today I decided to practice mindful eating and limited my distractions when it came to lunch time. I noticed that I took in my surroundings a little more than before. I also noticed that I had consumed all my food and left little to no waste. Before, I would waste more food since I would pay more attention to the TV show than the food I was consuming. This slow eating process would cause my food to get cold and at that point I was no longer interested in my food. Although I think this bad habit of mine will continue, I will make a better effort to reduce my distractions when it comes to lunch/dinner time.