One-Week Sustainability Challenge: Veganism
Created by Michael X. Yue
OVERVIEW
Over the past week, I have actively participated in a sustainability challenge for one week. During period of time, I went fully vegan - consuming only plant-based products. This excursion was to challenge my conventional way of lifestyle and thinking to meet the demands of carbon footprint reduction on a personal, social, and environmental level. This altercation of diet was embraced after learning about the ecological ramifications of commercial unsustainability of meat production from domestic livestock.
Challenge Rationale
(1) To experientially and holistically embrace my personal uncharted view on the veganism lifestyle.
(2) To invoke more activism of healthy choices in my dietary regimen.
(3) To make more intrinsic, eco-conscious decisions, which extends beyond my carbon footprint.
(4) To reflect on this excursion, on all aspects of sustainable dimensions: personal, social, cultural, economic, and environmental perspectives.
(5) To be more comfortable and literate with video-based projects for personal and professional development.
Ecological Footprints
The one-week veganism challenge was invoked, after learning about the stark differences between water consumption and carbon dioxide production of meat-based proteins, compare to vegetable-based alternatives. Due to these significant, influential disparities towards one's water and carbon footprint (Figure 1.; Figure 2.), I decided that I needed to adapt my lifestyle of consumption to better reflect a more ecologically viable alternative in my dietary lifestyle.
Figure 1. A carbon footprint cross-comparison of various edible carbohydrate and protein foods.
Click on image for source credit.
Figure 2. A water footprint cross-comparison between equivalent wheat and steak production. Click on image for source credit.
VLOG: One-Week Sustainability Challenge
10 Lessons I learned
1. A life without meat is not as difficult as I thought it would be!
2. I had the opportunity to try out many new plant-based foods which I
probably would have never eaten if I didn't do this challenge.
3. Who knew lichen could be so delicious?!
4. Vlogging was a highly reflect and evaluative process.
5. Vegan items off a restaurant menu were not disappointed at all! They were super tasty!
6. I become more conscious and active in positive sustainability!
7. I had the chance to share my endeavours with friends and colleagues.
8. I got excited about planning and thinking about my vegan diet.
9. You don't have to be a good cook to make vegetables taste good!
10. I had a lot of fun making this video blog;
even though the editing required lots of time, I would do it again!
digital signature
Yue, M. X. (2019). One-Week Sustainability Challenge: Veganism. TeacherMrYue. Retrieved from https://teachermryue.wixsite.com/mysite/sustainability-challenge