Eva Calzada

I think mainly the future of my family and of all future generations on our planet is a huge inspiration. Sustainable energy and other energy issues are important to our wellbeing and future as a society and currently, they are a big factor in GCC which is why it's important to hold government officials accountable as they hold power in legislation. Although as an individual there's only so much I can do to positively impact climate issues, doing what I CAN is also inspirational and motivating. As long as you are doing something you are actively making the steps towards a better future. I will be certain to utilize my right in using my voice with elected officials to make sure that our climate concerns are heard.

Utilizing the project drawdown resources, I was able to learn about improving cattle feed and manure management. If we optimized our cattle feeding strategies we could decrease our methane emissions from the cattle's digestive systems. This involves switching and improving the diets of the animals through foods such as legumes, maize, and soy that are low in fiber and contain highly soluble carbohydrates. With these changes, it's possible to reduce carbon emissions by 4.42 - 15.05 gigatons by 2050. Improving the manure management of livestock is also crucial as manure also produces methane. These solutions involve reducing storage times and covering anaerobic lagoons which are basins that deal with wastewater without oxygen. These solutions reduce methane emissions and ensure more efficient reuse of the waste, much like regenerative farming practices.

I visited the Asilomar State Beach out in Pacific Grove this morning! It was high tide so it was pretty difficult to see a bunch of new stuff without the tide pools being accessible. Nonetheless, it was really nice to go out and enjoy the fresh air at the beach this morning and it reminded me of how good it is for your mental health to take time to be out in nature. I was specifically looking for macroalgae or seaweed which isn't super hard to find at our beaches. I'll be attaching some pictures of the time I spent there! There was this bright green (what I assume to be) algae growing on the rocks that I feel like I've never noticed before so that was interesting.

I found it incredibly difficult to locate bamboo products in the area. I think more people would use sustainable products such as bamboo-based items if they were more easily accessible in the stores that people go to the most in their communities. I couldn't find a bamboo hairbush anywhere which I found to be strange as I feel like bamboo-based products (especially hairbrushes, as it is said to be good for your hair) have become more popular in recent years. However, any product that is made out of plant-based materials is also a good go-to sustainable alternative avoiding buying things made from wood and plastic! It would be great if we could have sections in our stores dedicated to products that are made from ethically sourced and sustainable materials.

Aquaculture is a widely used practice in terms of food gathering and consumption which is why it is crucial to make it sustainable. The following quote I found to be interesting and insightful, "Currently, 42% of the seafood we consume is farmed, but there are no regulations that constitute what “good” aquaculture is yet." That quote comes from https://oceanfdn.org/sustainable-aquaculture/ which provides a lot of in-depth and important info regarding aquaculture, which I will surely revisit as I continue my research.