Julianna Yip
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UP TO15minutesbeing mindful
Julianna's actions
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SiA Homework for Sept 4 - PRACTICE POST
On Sept 4, we will have 3 guests come talk to us about sustainability initiatives at Vanier. In preparation, please read over VANIER'S 5-YEAR SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN 2018-2023 and then write an EcoChallenge post that includes the following: - What do you think about the plan? Is it ambitious enough? Is there anything missing or superfluous? From your own observation and experience, how well is Vanier doing? List some questions that you would like to ask our speakers regarding Sustainability at Vanier? - Identify at least 3 initiatives that you are potentially interested in contributing to this semester and explain why. (Note there is a column labelled student involvement.) For more detailed information, you can also consult the 2020 VANIER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT in the links.
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SiA Homework for Sept 11 - Intro Post
Please write a short post to introduce yourself to the class. Mention some of your interests and what program you are in. If you have some ideas for your sustainability project this semester, please share - you might find a collaborator! Inspire others with the EcoChallenge actions that you are interested in trying out. Include a photo of yourself if you like.
Transportation
SiA Homework for Sept 4 - PRACTICE POST
Write an Ecochallenge POST to our team, briefly stating how you currently commute to Vanier. In Quebec, because we have a lot of hydro electric power, one of the main source of carbon emissions is from transportation. What commuting options do you have that would be healthier for you and the planet? Will you be considering any changes for this semester? If so, select or create an EcoChallenge action. If not, explain what your particular challenges are and what you could do to help other people in your situation (e.g. organise car sharing, propose a bus shuttle, etc.)
Industry
Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion
Multiple Industry Solutions
I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.
Land Sinks
Learn More about Silvopasture
Silvopasture
I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Learn about Local Indigenous Practices
Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure
I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by participating in a training, workshop, or presentation.
Land Sinks
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 15 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
More Fruits And Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 4 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Eat Mindfully
Reduced Food Waste
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Industry
Reduce Single-Use Disposables
Bioplastics; Reduced Plastics
I will avoid buying and using 3 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.
Share Your Story
READ Quebec's principles for a just transition AND/OR PARTICIPATE in the Sept 27 Climate March
For the week of Sept 25 to Oct 2, please read the documents attached AND IF YOU CAN, please attend the Sept 27 Climate March. Many people and organisations feel that the government is dragging its feet on the important changes required to meet our climate commitments. For your post, reflect on the value of mass demonstrations. Include a photo of a protest banner or slogan that you find effective (if you can't attend the event then find a photo on the web from other climate marches).
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks
Research the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed
Macroalgae Protection and Restoration
Each day, I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about protecting and restoring macroalgae/seaweed.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Food Waste
Reduced Food Waste
I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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Julianna Yip 11/12/2024 7:19 PMFinal Reflection Post:
The most challenging part for me was keeping up the weekly posts, but the Eco-Challenge experience as a whole was not difficult. It was a great method to start taking initiative and a good learning base with insightful information. However, I found that some websites were taken down as the links no longer worked. Nonetheless, this simply made me do supplementary research and engage even more. A lot of the challenges I chose were research-based which helped me educate myself on things such as silvopasture, macroalgae and more. I also learned a lot about food waste which is the concentration of my sustainability project so it was interesting to see what the Drawdown Ecochallenge had to say about it. This also taught me that small changes in habits can go a long way if everyone were to begin implementing them now. For instance, keeping track of my own food waste made me learn about my habits and ways I can improve. I think my efforts contribute to a small difference such as my personal carbon footprint but I do not think there is much of a difference unless a large number of people participate. I did not force anyone to take part, but I did explore natural grounds with friends which made it even more engaging and enjoyable. If I had invited more people I knew personally to participate, I believe the overall experience would have remained the same. However, it would probably be more motivating as it would be something we'd do together, making it hard to miss a weekly post. A lot of these habits are fairly simple so I do think that it is realistic to keep practicing them. I can also continue to research and educate others as well in hopes of spreading awareness. Nonetheless, it takes many to make a visible impact so I don't think one person alone can make a huge difference.
If I were to envision a world without fossil fuels, the first thing that comes to mind is lower greenhouse gas emissions, making the air more breathable and the planet healthier. Unfortunately completely disregarding fossil fuels does not seem highly realistic as we are very dependent on them. Humanity would slowly crumble as they are the root generators for electricity (especially outside of Quebec), internet, trade, agriculture and heating. Fossil fuels are also very important for many businesses like transportation and the extraction of fossil fuels to produce goods. Moreover, completely eliminating fossil fuels is something that cannot be done, but there are ways to reduce the amount. Additionally, fossil fuels are also used when making solar panels, electric cars and wind turbines so it is ultimately inevitable. Deforestation would also become more noticeable as wood and coal would be used for heating and cooking. This implies that there is a never-ending loop of fossil fuels and gas emissions and our only way to make a difference is to reduce our global consumption.
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Julianna Yip 11/12/2024 6:55 PMLearning about Local Indigenous Practices:
Although they live on and manage a lot more land, Indigenous peoples safely secure hundreds of millions of hectares worldwide. They strongly oppose deforestation, the spread of monocrop plantations, mining, and extracting oil and gas. Because of their resistance, carbon sequestration is maintained or even increased and land-based carbon emissions are avoided. Despite this, governments still try to attain their lands and pollute their native grounds. The Project Drawdown’s Indigenous Peoples’ Forest Tenure promotes the Indigenous right to their traditional forestland as it is also a part of their culture. This makes it possible for local Indigenous communities to manage their forestlands which contributes to a significantly lower level of carbon emissions. In essence, it is a way of protecting the forest and encouraging a moderate utilization of nature. According to an estimate, native peoples only make up 4 to 5 percent of the world's population, yet only manage 11% of its forests and occupy about 25% of its land area.
I attended the Indigenous Botanical Garden for another course and noticed that there was a significant connection with sustainability. The presentation begins with the “Thanksgiving Address” also known as “A Word Before All Else.” In this speech, they show their gratitude to nature, the purified oxygen and water, the land, the sun and the overall resources that the planet provides us with. They care for their land by using reasonable amounts its resources that they know the planet is capable of reproducing. This demonstrates how much they value nature, which leads to a healthy ecosystem. In addition to this, the Indigenous have a minimal amount of waste. When it comes to animals, they use every part of it since they do not like to waste these resources. It is part of their custom tradition to express gratitude to the animal for their assistance which shows their deep regard for the natural world. Their culture furthermore expresses that it is possible to coexist with nature without causing a concerning amount of damage.
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Julianna Yip 11/12/2024 6:06 PMReduce Food Waste:
The Drawdown indicates that approximately one-third of food is wasted on a global spectrum. This is a drastic sustainability issue because food requires land and resources in order to be produced and disposed of; which all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Because of this, when we waste food, we also waste the energy, resources and money used for the production, processing, packaging and transportation. It also correlates with the seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer and hours of labour behind the procedures. Additionally, food waste is held accountable for around eight percent of our emissions. The Project Drawdown suggests a reduction in food that can be done in many ways. For instance, countries on the lower-income end, can try to improve their own infrastructure for storage as well as processing, and transportation. Meanwhile, higher-income countries can control retail and consumerism. By lowering these demands, less will be produced and there would also be a decrease in waste that ends up in harmful landfills. Food waste does not only involve greenhouse gas emissions but it infiltrates water and land as well, putting the ecosystem at a disadvantage.
Moreover, the goal of eradicating hunger can be achieved by reducing food loss and waste, which will help cover more than 60% of the gap between the amount of food available now and that of 2050. Suppliers and consumers can reduce their demand by establishing goals to reduce food waste. Methods for standardizing the measuring and reporting of food loss and waste can be developed and people can easily track this on their own as well. Seeing this information made me keep a log of the food I wasted. Out of all the garbage produced in my home, I found that food packaging produced the most waste. Regarding the food itself, I composted as usual. It consisted primarily of peels and bruised items that were disregarded. In order to cut down on waste, I also ate leftovers whenever possible. After learning how much plastic got thrown out, I began to think about the production costs and the resources required to make these which all condone methane gas emissions. This pattern reassured the importance of reusable containers. Unfortunately, most ingredients are already pre-packaged in materials that cannot be changed by society. As consumers, we can opt to bring our containers to farmer’s markets and reduce our demand to promote sustainability.
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Julianna Yip 11/12/2024 4:00 PMResearching the Wonders of Macroalgae / Seaweed:
One of the planet's most productive ecosystems is macroalgae forests. Subsequently, carbon sequestration in the deep sea can potentially be improved by preserving and rehabilitating these environments. I learned that macroalgae are marine plants that develop rather quickly and they store large quantities of carbon which aids in sustainability. The world's oceans are home to a wide variety of macroalgae forests, particularly in temperate subtidal environments. A combination of anthropogenic activity and climate change is causing the area covered by macroalgae to decline by 1.8% every year on a global scale. Decreasing harvest, preserving predators, and lowering eutrophication from runoff are sufficient actions that help macroalgae forests for a better climate.
The Project Drawdown calculated the macroalgae sequestration rate by multiplying the net primary production of wild macroalgae by an estimated percent of carbon exported to the marine lands. These efforts make a positive difference, however, climate change is still unavoidable as it is a chain of reaction events. As oceans absorb and transport heat and carbon, some of the planet's most important processes take place where the air and sea meet. It is mentioned that at least 90% of the excess heat produced by recent climate change has been absorbed by oceans. Additionally, as carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, plants photosynthesize, while animals form shells and absorb the carbon dioxide that humans produce. Sea levels, marine heat waves, and water temperatures are all increasing. The ocean becomes more acidic when carbon dioxide levels rise, preventing coral from forming their skeletons and shellfish from developing their shells. In addition to this, less oxygen dissolves in the water at warmer temperatures, decreasing the ocean's productivity to sustain animal life. Oxygen levels coming from the ocean have decreased and the food chain is likely to be unstable in the near future if the output of photosynthesis-based biomass declines, leading to carbon emissions.
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Julianna Yip 11/12/2024 2:54 PMExploring Nature in my Area:
Forests store a lot of carbon in their biomass and soil. Important ecosystem services are additionally supplied by coastal wetlands. However, only a small percentage of these ecosystems are protected because human activities destroy them faster. There is an estimated 1–10% of anthropogenic carbon emissions caused by the degradation of coastal wetlands. Maintaining healthy coastal wetlands and forests comes with many advantages and is a crucial tactic to reduce the effects of climate change. Project Drawdown’s Coastal Wetland Protection solution involves the legal protection of carbon-rich mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, reducing degradation rates and safeguarding carbon sinks. This solution secures vulnerable coastal wetlands whose destruction would be a source of greenhouse gasses.
Spending time exploring natural areas has many positive effects. It encourages others to do the same while promoting the importance of nature. Researchers from the University of Michigan have also conducted the study and discovered that nature walks are linked to a number of mental health advantages, such as less depression, reduced stress, an improved mental health and well-being. For this challenge, I spent time walking around Angrignon park with a friend. The park is very grand and contains many trees of different kinds. Despite the man-made cement trails, I observed that there are still many natural wetlands and lakes that are being preserved. I found that I was also more productive after this trip. The walk itself was very refreshing and it is evident that the air was much more regulated than it would be in the city.
Forests have been storing carbon in their biomass and soils through the procedure of photosynthesis. Consequently, this is occurring less as forests are now commonly being destroyed. Not only are the trees regulating the air less, but the process of taking down these forests also plays a role in releasing this stored carbon loss. Because of this, there is also a reduction in forestry habitat, control of erosion, soil, the regulation of water as well as air pollution. Forests are generally cut down for farming, firewood, timber and other purposes that all cater towards human beings.
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Julianna Yip 11/11/2024 7:26 PMMore Fruits And Vegetables:
One of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions comes from our carnivorous demand. The procedure of breeding, processing and packaging meat causes damage to the planet when there is a high request for it. Consequently, a preference for plant-based diets lowers this consumer demand and therefore reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer usage and land clearing.
According to Project Drawdown, simply dietary changes alone have the ability to reduce emissions by approximately 78.48 gigatons; if 50–75 percent of people adopted a healthy diet consisting of 2,300 calories per day on average and reduced their overall meat consumption. Agriculture done for cattle results in tropical deforestation, which is why minimizing unnecessary meat consumption will prevent further forest loss and related greenhouse gas emissions.
Fruits and vegetables provide a wide range of well-balanced diets because plants and trees are seasonal. In addition to being better for the environment, fruits and vegetables are also more nutrient-dense and healthier alternatives to processed meals. I was able to learn more recipes through this challenge, and because they were filling, I noticed that my energy levels rose while my hunger decreased. Getting used to adding 4 cups of fruits and vegetables each day is a minor adjustment that can easily be learnt to promote sustainability and a better well-being.
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Julianna Yip 11/11/2024 4:19 PMLearning More about Silvopasture:
For this challenge, I spent time researching about silvopasture. Prior to this post, I hadn’t heard of this term and learned a lot especially through the Project Drawdown’s aims to contribute to silvopasture and contributing to an increased productivity and biosequestration. It is the coexistence of trees and livestock grazing on the same piece of land is known. Forage and forest products are managed during the process of silvopasture, which offers both immediate and long-term revenue streams.
Researchers at the USDA’s National Agroforestry Center went through over fifty studies regarding the adoption of silvopasture procedures. According to their 2022 study, the primary barrier that is stopping silvopasture is a lack of knowledge regarding the subject. Nonetheless, 88% continue the practice after learning about silvopasture, a healthier option for the planet. Because silvopasture can help farmers and their livestock adapt to unpredictable weather and increased drought, its appeal is expected to increase as the effects of global warming worsen.
This ancient practice that integrates trees and pasture into a single system for raising livestock. In addition to maintaining or boosting productivity and offering a number of other advantages, pastures with trees sequester about five to ten times as much carbon as those of the same size without trees. Farmers and ranchers also profit from silvopasture. Income is made through their products of livestock, trees, nuts, fruits and mushrooms. This way, the land and animals both become healthier and more productive.
Silvopasture is a more sustainable method as opposed to the traditional systems as trees assist in the absorption of carbon dioxide, ultimately lowering carbon emissions. The trees also provide additional shade for livestock and the forage protects the animals from being eaten. Farmers benefit and make profit from all the resources that the trees provide such as food for animals and wood products. Trees have the ability to improve the organic matter and soil. The mulch formed from fallen leaves assists the soil in many ways, including enhancing its organic matter and nutrients while protecting tree roots. Because this mulch stops weeds from growing, it also helps avoid the need for agrochemicals to eliminate them.
Consequently, implementing silvopasture can be expensive, time-consuming, and it frequently deviates from accepted farming practices. Silvopasture also needs a lot of land space which is not something that everyone has access to. Because of this, the labour involved is also more intense as it requires more assistance in order to be maintained. When plants are on the same land, their roots grow and end up taking each other's nutrients once they’re close together which prevents them from developing. Despite this, there are more advantages to silvopasture than there are drawbacks and it is still in the process of becoming spread on a greater measure.
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Julianna Yip 11/08/2024 11:21 PMLearning & Practicing Sustainable Fashion:Factory based industries require the use of energy, furnaces, and boilers that cause pollution towards the environment. This leads to 21% of all heat-trapping emissions and are directly caused by these industries through factories and power plants. Supplementary to the high demand for electricity, industries are also responsible for nearly half of emissions from off-site electricity. The readings taught me that there are ways to improve industrial processes in the way our materials are produced and methods to make use of waste efficiently. Among the most common materials are cement, plastic, and metals. They are also strong contenders that can be modified and substituted with better alternatives that produce lower emissions, while still meeting the same necessities. Waste can also be used rather than being disregarded. In terms of the fashion industry, re-working clothing and fabrics, as well as thrifting are more sustainable options.This leads to areas where we can improve as individuals and contribute to the greater whole. Eliminating purchases made purely for psychological needs is a crucial component. Retail therapy provides instant satisfaction, but it is still important to consider how the product will be used. To promote a healthier environment, purchases should be restricted if they are not absolutely necessary as overconsumption encourages factories to mass produce. Based on my observations, sustainable fashion has improved for our generation. Many people thrift, but do so for the wrong reasons. Although it is generally inexpensive, accessible and a new trend, the reasoning behind it should still be considered. For instance, whether or not these items are needed and being aware about the flaws of fast fashion towards the environment, should be made aware. Marketing strategies like Boxing Week and Black Friday sales normalize shopping as a form of retail therapy while ignoring the expenses and effects of production.
Through this challenge I was able to manage my money and avoid overbuying by creating a budget and recording my monthly income and expenses. By cutting back on our collective spending, we can reduce waste and the rate at which toxic gasses are released into the atmosphere. -
Julianna Yip 11/04/2024 12:39 PMReduce Single Use Disposables:
The Project Drawdown indicates that human beings produce approximately 365 million metric tons of plastic every year and fossil fuels make up nearly all of it. However, approximately 90 percent of our current plastics could be made from plants instead. This is a more eco-friendly alternative that reduces climate emissions because it uses carbon from the atmosphere rather than from fossil fuels.After reading the articles on the Ecochallenge website, I noticed that there are many areas in which our society is already improving in regards to single use plastics. For instance, paper straws are now increasingly common and it is actually rare to find plastic straws. Food courts in malls have also started providing wooden utensils as opposed to plasticware. I also observed that many Asian restaurants now provide reusable plastic containers for take-outs and leftovers as opposed to styrofoam packaging. This is also beneficial in the sense that these containers are microwavable and can be kept for future tupperware to reduce plastic waste.The Green Education Foundation lists ways to reduce single plastics. I took these suggestions into consideration as I began my challenge to be more mindful of the effects of plastic. I avoided buying and using 3 single-use plastics and replaced them with durable options. For instance, I started carrying around a reusable bag since plastic bags can take up to a 1000 years to degrade and emit harmful greenhouse gasses as a result of fossil fuels. Another habit I will continue to develop is to continue making use of my water dispenser and my reusable bottle. I often bought plastic water bottles as they are so easily accessible and simpler than having to frequently fill up a gallon. Additionally, throughout high school I was taught the importance of recycling water bottles which I realized can be quite misleading to many who do not fully understand the harm plastic condones. I also avoided purchasing sugary beverages that come in plastic bottles by making my own juice by squeezing fruits which is not only healthier but also more sustainable for the environment. This challenge taught me how simple it is to reduce my own commitment to single use plastics. It is merely a form of miseducation and habits that can be altered. Reducing single use disposals is highly realistic for those who are willing to change their ways. -
Julianna Yip 10/23/2024 6:48 AMThanksgiving:
The message I get from the four videos is the urgent need for degrowth. Inequalities, excessive consumption, and a growing carbon footprint are the results of human overconsumption with resources, particularly in wealthier nations. In other words, as humanity uses more resources than the environment can supply, our biocapacity cannot keep up. We should monitor our ecological footprint on a national and international level as well as on a personal level using the different websites that are accessible to us. The second and third videos also discuss that everything around us is a result of greenhouse gases and fossil fuels. Subsequently, the materials used to make these things also derive from fossil fuels which traps us in a never-ending cycle. Because of this, it has become so normalized to the point where many people are conditioned to ignore the warning signs. Nonetheless, it is imperative that these habits stop.
I was prompted to consider thankfulness after watching these videos, many of which are products of the planet's natural resources. For example, I am grateful to live in the suburbs of Montreal, where there is a lot of greenery, making it lovely to look at and a refreshing place to walk in. Additionally, this allows me to use public transport like the REM, which is still harmful to the environment but far less so than driving a car every day. The area is also surrounded by fresh water, and purified air which creates a relaxing aroma and atmosphere. Resources such as harvested crops and fruit, timber, fibre, paper, medicine and herbs are also prominent in everyday life and can only be achieved through the provisioning services of the eco-system.
Degrowth is something that can improve overall life in the long run. It is just as crucial to the planet as it is to the living species on it. The statistics in the fourth video state that the average well-being of our societies is not dependent on national income and economic growth. The problem is the communities within these nations that have an immense gap in richness, resulting in inequalities and potential mental illness. Therefore, limiting human consumption and advocating for a more equal life will lessen our carbon footprint and promote a realistic biocapacity.