

Laurieann Phalen
"“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” Dr. Seuss - The Lorax."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,333 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO264plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO93plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO150minutesspent learning
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO63plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO279pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
Laurieann's actions
Lifestyle
Watch a Documentary
I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.
Lifestyle
Homemade Cleaners
I will make my own cleaning products at home.
Lifestyle
Travel Smart
If traveling, I will bring my own plastic free items (water bottle, grocery bags, collapsible food containers, utensils, straws, etc.) with me.
Lifestyle
Travel Toiletries
If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA approved reusable quart sized bag.
Food
Use Reusables at Work
I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.
Food
Plant a Garden
I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 9 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Food
Skip the Straw
I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.
Community
Visit A Waste Management Facility
I will visit a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about the waste stream.
Lifestyle
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
Food
Use Reusable Containers
I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).
Food
Use Reusable Water Bottles
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Participant Feed
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhich documentary did you choose to watch? What did you learn?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:37 AMI watched a documentary on where our plastic wastes go - to third world countries. It was heartbreaking to see children and women being exposed to such dangerous working conditions - and earning pennies per day. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleHow can/did you prepare to be successful in this action? Did you engage in conversation with anyone about your new habit?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:33 AMFirst, it is much less expensive - and once you buy travel sized containers, you don't have to keep consuming small bottles - hopefully the market for them will decrease. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:31 AMI became deathly allergic to the artificial fragrances in cleaning products, so I had to learn how to make my own. Making is much less expensive, and you have control over what you are exposing your body to. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyleWhat are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:30 AMSustainability is the benefit to purchasing clothes made of natural fibers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:29 AMIf you have to use disposables, make sure they are biodegradable. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodUsing the links provided, investigate the bottling practices of water corporations. There have been many cases where the water rights of the local people have been violated or even completely disregarded when a corporation decides to bottle water from a particular water source. How can you advocate for those who have been harmed by this bottling process?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:28 AMThe best way to advocate for the rights of others is through education, and respecting the point of view of others - even if you think they are not right. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodIt is often true that we only have control over our own actions and not the collective community. How can you lead by example when it comes to switching disposables for reusable dishes in your community?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHave you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:26 AMSome restaurants do not offer straws and you have to ask for them. A sad thing is that while people know about straws & sea turtles, they will use a straw and make a joke about killing a sea turtle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodHow can you be an advocate for using resusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable cutlery, and how can you convince them of the need for change?
Laurieann Phalen 7/31/2019 3:24 AMEducation is always the place to start when advocating the use of an item in place of an existing one. The university where I work uses disposables - and due to cost and convenience, it will be a hard sell for them to make a switch.