Summary
This month, we understood that we must raise our expectations of ourselves to take bigger steps to address the plastic problem. Plastics are not a waste issue (recycling is not a full solution!), it’s a production/systemic issue that requires solutions at a bigger level.
Action to Implement
Post your reflections & observations in the comments section below ⬇️
Personalize svadhyaya by entering your action related to taking more steps to address plastic use at the community (see How We Practice above) and society level on the Loving Earth Lifestyle Tracker
Past Months Action to Implement
🌱 November 2023: Explore the solutions proposed by the Pioneers for the Planet in the article. Select one solution and conduct research to share your insights with the Pioneers on the Pitch Day event and beyond!
🌱 October 2023: 💻 Access your latest electricity bill and keep it handy for Oct 22nd!
🌱 September 2023: 🔍Find a local community farm.
🍅 Sign up for a trial of their produce.
🌱 August 2023: (1) Download the Prthvi Seva guide. (2) Choose an idea from the guide to try before the workshop
🌱 July 2023: Register and join us for the Prthvi Utsava Celebration and spread the word.
🌱 June 2023: 🏢 In your workplace, join or initiate a “green team” that is committed to reducing emissions and educating people on climate change.
🌱 May 2023:
- 🏪 Make a list of places (local cafes, stores, etc) where plastic use is unavoidable.
- 📝 Create a plan to reach out to one place to reduce their plastic use.
🌱 April 2023: 💝 Gather your loved ones and plant native trees and native perennials!. 🌳 Track progress and share pictures with the Community to reach the goal of 1000 trees by Arbor Day! (April 28th).
🌱 March 2023: (1) Plant seeds to start a kitchen garden indoor or outdoor. (2) share pictures in the comment section below.
🌱 February 2023: Research a local environmental group and attend their upcoming meeting
🌱 January 2023: 🌍 Create your personal practices for the 6 fundamental virtues
🌱 December 2022: ✅Do the following:
- Simplify one closet or one drawer in your home every week. Remove items that have not been used in the last 1 year.
- Dispose of unneeded items in a responsible way.
🌱 November 2022: ✅Make a list of the gifts you usually give during the holidays.
🌱 October 2022: This month, add 1 or 2 regional plants from the Xerces Pollinator Conservation website to your landscape!
🌱 September 2022: This month, review the Green Building list & commit to 1 simple and 1 challenging item to implement in your community/center.
🌱 August 2022: This month, read the Prthvi Seva Guide & commit to at least one practice to make your center/community more sustainable.
🌱 July 2022: This month, take a closer look at your travel impacts:
🔢 Estimate the carbon emissions of your mode of travel, lodging, food, and purchases
🙋🏻♀️ Commit to making one change to reduce your carbon footprint
🌱 June 2022: This month, take a closer look and identify your food waste as:
🍌 food prep scraps
🍽️ plate waste (unfinished food)
🤦🏻♀️spoiled or unwanted foo
🌱 May 2022: Implement the following actions.
- Reduce food Packaging.
- Learn about local and seasonal foods.
- Support a local grower & shop at Farmer’s Markets.
🌱 April 2022: Sahasra Vrksha Sankalpa – As a CommUnity, bring your heart and hands to the ground to plant 1000 trees together. Track and share here.
🌱 March 2022: Contribute to the health of our planet and the health of beings by doing the following:
Each day take inventory of what goes in the trash.
Identify the most common item.
Find an alternative that eliminates this waste.
🌱 February 2022: Implement the following and encourage others to follow:
- Unplug chargers when not in use
- Use the ‘Energy Saver’ mode on phones & laptops
- Use cold water for laundry & line dry
🌱 January 2022: Identify 3 actions you do that help the environment and 3 actions that harm it
Revisit
Watch the full workshop with Q&A
