Lore Rosenthal

I thought of one more thing.  During this month, I learned about the Plastics Hub in Appalachia, using fracked gas.  It made me realize we need to get to the root of the problem, which is not to create plastic in the first place.  https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/insight/fracking-endgame-locked-plastics-pollution-and-climate-chaos?

I learned that I use Social Media more than the phone.  I would have liked to make "Community: Share My Actions" a daily thing instead of a one-time challenge.    My "Create Your Own Action" never showed up.   I was trying to spread the word about a new recycling law in my county, but was not able to get "credit" for my impact.  I have to admit, I kinda gave up on the challenge.  I enjoyed the Drawdown EcoChallenge more.  I am already pretty familiar with the problems of single-use plastics and have already changed my behavior in many ways.  There were also two other Plastic Challenges happening in the month of July, which is confusing.  Now another organization is starting one in Sept.  

I realized I don't always log out, so how do you know if I checked in, if I come back to the website the next day?

My first action (post on Social Media) should have been a daily action, not a one time.  Today, I posted this to Facebook and also shared it with my Plastic Free Team.  It is 4 min, about how the Plastics Industry is killing us.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=269&v=OFMau-t3QaI

Create your own action:  On Friday I visited a college, in Howard County that has beautifully paired trash and recycling bins, and has hydration stations instead of water bottles.  I complemented the facilities manager and was inspired. 

I did not make a phone call.  I attended a rally.  It was to convince the MD Democratic Party to support a DNC resolution to hold a "Climate Debate".  The MD committee voted YES.  Now the vote will go to the National DNC on Aug 22.  Plastics are part of Climate Crisis Debate.  In fact there are plans to build a plastics "hub" in Appalachia, using FRACKED GAS to make plastic.

Create Your Own Challenge - yesterday I was at a civic meeting where I announced about the new county law where trash/recycle bins must be paired. It was a good educational opportunity.  Plus they had the bins paired correctly, but people still put the wrong items in the wrong bins!  They had plastic coffee stirrers and plastic cream cups.   We also went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday and refused the straws.  The waitress really "got it".

We are planning for the Labor Day Festival, trying to decide if we will have two paired bins (trash & recycling) or three (compost).  It will be a group decision.

I have not been very good about checking in.  My "Create Your Own" is still not showing up.
a) I talked to NDC to be sure that their Compost Container is for PAPER, in addition to bottles and cans.  Leah said yes, but I think it should be better marked.  b) Michael and I bought BAMBOO straws, to try out.  We have been a little better at remembering to decline straws.  We always decline plastic bags at restaurants and CVS

July 4 - nothing to report.  It is a holiday.