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Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar

Karshini Ganesamoorthy

JAC Sustainability

"Learn and build habits to be more sustainable!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,027 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    275
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    300
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    275
    minutes
    not spent in front of a screen

Karshini's actions

Basic Needs & Security

Know Your Produce

SDG #2 Zero Hunger

I will visit ewg.org to learn about and use their Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen produce lists.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Track My Purchases

SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities

Throughout the day I will track my purchases and then research the companies making these goods.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Climate & Ecosystems

Borrow a book from JAC library!

Read a library book that covers either SDG #13 (Climate Action), #14 (Life Below Water), or #15 (Life on Land). Ask the librarian for help to find relevant titles.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Basic Needs & Security

Calculate Your Water Footprint

SDG #6 Water & Sanitation

I will calculate my water footprint and look for a few ways I can reduce consumption or waste.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health & Equity

Spend Time Outside

SDG #3 Health & Well-Being

I will replace 25 minute(s) per day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside exercising, enjoying the sunrise/sunset, gardening, journaling, or practicing gratitude for nature.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Health & Equity

Learn About Participation and Representation

SDG #5 Gender

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning more about the barriers to women and girl's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

SDG #12 Consumption & Production

Each day, I will spend 7 minutes learning about sustainable fashion so that I can engage in this practice.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Create A Readiness Plan

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will develop a readiness plan for my household in the event of an emergency.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Calculate Your Carbon Impact

SDG #13 Climate

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how lifestyle changes could reduce the carbon footprint and impacts on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Support Local Pollinators

SDG #15 Life On Land

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 20 minutes researching which plants support local pollinators and plant some in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Reduce Single-Use Plastics

SDG #14 & 15

Throughout the day, I will note the single-use plastics I use and consider the reusable options available to me.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Economy & Communities

Understand Your Climate And Natural Disaster Risks

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will spend 10 minutes learning about the climate and natural disaster risks in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Economy & Communities

Mend Clothing

SDG #9 Industry & Infrastructure

I will mend a piece of clothing for myself, family or friends.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Climate & Ecosystems

Ecological & Xeriscape Gardening

SDG #14 & 15

I will do one or more of the following actions in my yard, or volunteer in my community: plant indigenous plants, landscape with water-efficient plants, add mulching, replace a lawn, and/or use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Basic Needs & Security
    What surprised you about the two produce lists? How will you use these lists for your grocery shopping? Have you used these lists before?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/30/2022 2:28 PM
    I have never used these lists before, and honestly I was a little surprised I never thought of the fact that certain foods can be more eco friendly than others. However, now that I’m aware, I definitely will be using these lists when I’m shopping!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Economy & Communities
    What was it like to mend your clothing? If you are skilled at mending, what tips do you have for others?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/30/2022 2:14 PM
    I asked my mom to help me learn how to mend my clothing because I thought it would be a good skill to develop. While I found it a little confusing, I feel really proud that now I can mend my clothes instead of just immediately considering certain clothes unwearable simply because there is a small hole. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate & Ecosystems
    What book did you take out? What did you learn?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/30/2022 2:11 PM
    I borrowed the book “The World Is Blue: How Our Fate And The Ocean’s Are One” by Sylvia A. Earle. I learned a lot about how humans have impacted the ocean and the beings living in the ocean. While it was a little scary to realize how humans have destroyed the vast ocean and how our actions are causing the ocean to turn acidic, it also reminded me why this challenge is important to me. This book also goes over the characteristics of many species like whales, tuna, sharks, etc. and how they affect the world and interact to form a complex ecosystem, which is fascinating to me. Preserving the biodiversity of the planet is something I consider very important, and that’s why I chose to go into the science field. So this book helped motivate me in my studies, and reminded me that people have been working to help the planet for a long time. It might be terrifying but we can’t give up!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health & Equity
    What are the implications for a culture that spends most of its time inside and on screens?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/29/2022 2:16 PM
    Spending time inside and on screen is very bad for your health. That’s something we’ve heard and seen many times. An example of this is that When we are using screens, we may not pay attention to our posture, and over extended periods of time, this can cause pain. There are also plenty of other impacts that staying inside will have on your body. That’s why it’s important to take the time to be away from screens and enjoy the fresh air!

  • Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/27/2022 7:57 PM
    As the end of the month approaches, I look back  and I feel very proud of the progress I made so far! I hope to take these lessons and habits with me even when there is no eco challenge: everyday is a day to do something better for the planet. 

  • Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/25/2022 8:01 PM
    I got to spend a lot of time in the warm weather today and it made me feel grateful for the greenery I get to experience. Simply sitting at the foot of a tree, just enjoying the good weather and the light breeze. I hope our efforts will allow us to have more relaxing times like these where we get to experience nature and enjoy ourselves. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Climate & Ecosystems
    What ecological or xeriscape landscaping practices do you have? How has your landscape changed from these practices?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/24/2022 6:39 PM
    I used to love having a stereotypical green lawn and I tried very hard to maintain it. That is no longer the case. Instead of spending time removing the little flowers and clovers that grow naturally in my yard, I just let them grow. I don’t use fertilizers, and I also save water as grass needs way more water. Additionally, I don’t use pesticides. I’m excited for it to get warmer because I will be planting more native plants as well. 

  • Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/21/2022 10:20 AM
    Got some plants today in the atrium of AME, very excited to see them grow!!

  • Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/20/2022 12:12 PM
    My goals are going pretty well, and this makes me very happy. I’ve been wanting to work on building habits for quite a while but this challenge is allowing me to build these habits while also being gentle with myself. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Health & Equity
    What are some of the barriers that exist to women and girl's equitable participation or representation in your community? Do you experience these barriers?

    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 's avatar
    Karshini Ganesamoorthy 4/19/2022 1:33 PM
    My community is very conservative and many of the members of my community have outdated opinions. Because of this, there are many sexist stereotypes and rules that exist within my community. By example, women and girls are told to dress in specific ways, not to go out at certain times, etc. There are also many times where a group of people will be discussing issues and my ideas have been dismissed with the excuse of “you are a woman, you don’t understand”. This is incredibly harmful, and it is why I feel lucky that I have grown to be able to overcome these barriers and continue making suggestions, even when some people try to dismiss them. I know many girls and women in my community that also continue to work in specific groups within our community to ensure that women are represented. After all, these groups will make decisions that will affect us, and we should have a say in that. 

    • Melissa Tomecz's avatar
      Melissa Tomecz 4/19/2022 5:26 PM
      Good for you!  No one should ever have to be silenced because "they are a woman".  Everyone has good ideas and they need to be heard.