Week 2: April 17-23
Food and Water
Food and Water!
Alright EcoChallengers, now is the time for you to really make a difference! This week you will be challenged to LEARN, ACT&ADVOCATE, TRACK, and SHARE. We have selected lots of resources and activities for you. Wishing you an inspiring 2nd week of the EcoChallenge!
LEARN
Learn from one or more of the resources below. Each activity earns you 5 points.
1. Calculate your water footprint.
- Do you know how much water you use on a daily basis? How much water goes into making the things you use each day such as clothing, food, and electronics? Calculate your footprint, then check out some tips on how to save water.
2. Learn about labeling on meat and dairy products
- The Environmental Working Group provides a helpful list of confusing food labels and explains the meaning of each.
3. Watch the 8-min video "The Story of Bottled Water"
The Story of Bottled Water tells the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap.
4. Visit the Bullitt Center, the world’s greenest office building in the world!
FREE
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, at 9:30-10:00 a.m. or at 4:00-4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bullitt Center, 1501 East Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98122
- Did you know that the greenest, most energy-efficient commercial building in the world is located just a few blocks away from SU campus, and that it houses SU's Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (CEJS)? Come and take a tour and check out the composting toilets, onsite rainwater collection, and more. CEJS will provide two tours of the Bullitt Center on April 20. RSVP here (max. 25 participants per tour).
5. Stop by at Bon Appetit's Food Events at C-street
WHEN: April 19-20, 2017 at lunchtime
WHERE: Cherry Street Market
- April 19: Learn to yield judgement about the appearance of your produce. Bon Appetit invites you to compare grocery store "acceptable" produce versus produce purchased straight from the farm.
- April 20: Bon Appetit will offer delicious free samples of food made from commonly thrown away items, such as candied orange peels!
6. Read these tips on "Good Food on a Tight Budget"
- Learn how to eat better at a lower cost.
ACT & ADVOCATE
Support groups who are working towards solutions by attending an event or advocating for their campaigns. Each activity earns you 5 points.
1. Take the pledge to minimize your water footprint and “Change the Course” of natural waterways in the United States. For every pledge, Change the Course will restore 1,000 gallons of water back into freshwater ecosystems.
2. Attend Washington Water Trust "Wild&Scenic" film festival night
TICKETS: $35.00
WHEN: April 19, 5:30PM
WHERE: SIFF Cinema Uptown
- Support the Washington Water Trust by attending the "Wild&Scenic" film festival night with special guest emcee, Ashley Ahearn, happy hour, conversation, and an evening of eye-opening films! Learn more and buy tickets.
3. MARCH FOR SCIENCE
FREE
WHEN: Saturday, April 22, 9:45AM (meeting at SU Library plaza). 10:00AM-1:00PM (Speakers, Events, and March. The March will end at the Seattle Center at 1:00PM)
WHERE: 9:45AM: meeting at SU Library plaza. SU students and employees will meet at SU's library plaza and walk together to the start of the march at the Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill.
- Take part in the global March for Science on Earth Day to support science that upholds the common good and encourages leaders to create evidence-backed policy reflecting the public interest. Get connected with the community's marchers on Facebook and check the event schedule here. Contact Yolanda Cieters at cietersy@seattleu.edu with any questions. Want to make signs to take to the march and need cardboard or poster board? Contact SU's Recycling Coordinator, Eric Elliott, at elliotte@seattleu.edu.
4. Celebrate Earth Day at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center!
FREE
WHEN: Sunday, April 23, 2:00-4:00PM
WHERE: Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, 4705 West Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
- Come hear Native and non-Native storytellers share traditional and contemporary stories and music about our relationship to the natural world and each other. Paul Che oke ten Wagner, storyteller from the Vancouver Island Saanich tribe, Tom Rawson, storyteller and banjo player extraordinare from Seattle, Harvest Moon, storyteller and cultural ambassador of the Quinault tribe, and James Rasmussen from the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition will all speak. Learn more and register here.
5. Attend SU's 4th Interfaith Earth Day: Meet Earth Justice organizations and take action at the Action Center
FREE
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 11:30-1:30PM
WHERE: Student Center 160 and Hearth Area, including the green outside STCN
- Meet campus and off-campus Earth Justice organizations and support Earth Ministry's call for action; Enjoy live music from KXSU and SU student performers; partake in a Mindfulness Meditation session; and participate in Interfaith Earth Justice conversations. Learn more!
6. Help keep Washington's food and water safe, clean, and healthy by checking out Food & Water Watch and signing up to stay up to date on urgent actions happening in Washington or joining one of their campaigns for environmental justice.
TRACK
In Week 1, we challenged you to track your spending and your food & water consumption habits on the "EcoChallenge Tracking Sheet." Keep on tracking this second week of the EcoChallenge... and note any improvements!
Can't find the tracking sheet from Week 1? No worries, just download it again.
- Click here to download your "EcoChallenge Tracking Sheet."
- Save the Excel file to your own computer: go to File -> Download as
- As the week progresses, populate the week's column with your totals or answers in each area.
SHARE
Share your experience either through social media or in-person. If sharing on social media, make sure to also share on the CEJS Facebook page (5 points for each share)
1. Share a picture of you or your team completing one of the challenges. Checking out an event this week? Marching for Science on Earth Day? Visiting the Bullitt Center? Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or the CEJS Facebook page.
2. Spread the word around your community! Share your EcoChallenge experience with a friend, relative, or neighbor.
3. Get together with EcoChallenge participants. Get together with one of your teammates and discuss this week's challenges and your experiences. Or, contact members of another team to discuss (we are happy to make the connection!).
EXTRA CHALLENGE
The theme for May at CEJS is "Get Outside...Sustainably!" If you enjoy the outdoors, whether that means relaxing in a sunny park or hiking miles into the backcountry, we want to see your photos of it. Submit one photo you took in the outdoors for 10 points and a chance to be featured on the CEJS website and the OAR website for the month of May. Remember to always practice Leave No Trace principles when enjoying outdoor spaces!
Please email your submission to cejsintern@gmail.com anytime before 11:59PM on Monday, April 24.
SCORECARDS
PLEASE NOTE: Scorecards are not saveable so be ready to complete your scorecard in its entirety.
As always, please check out the EcoChallenge website if you have any questions or email us at cejsintern@gmail.com.