One-Week Sustainability Challenge: Veganism
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Created by Michael X. Yue
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OVERVIEW
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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.
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Challenge Rationale
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(1) To experientially and holistically embrace my personal uncharted view on the veganism lifestyle.
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(2) To invoke more activism of healthy choices in my dietary regimen.
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(3) To make more intrinsic, eco-conscious decisions, which extends beyond my carbon footprint.
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(4) To reflect on this excursion, on all aspects of sustainable dimensions: personal, social, cultural, economic, and environmental perspectives.
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(5) To be more comfortable and literate with video-based projects for personal and professional development.
Ecological Footprints
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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
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1. A life without meat is not as difficult as I thought it would be!
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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.
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3. Who knew lichen could be so delicious?!
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4. Vlogging was a highly reflect and evaluative process.
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5. Vegan items off a restaurant menu were not disappointed at all! They were super tasty!
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6. I become more conscious and active in positive sustainability!
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7. I had the chance to share my endeavours with friends and colleagues.
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8. I got excited about planning and thinking about my vegan diet.
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9. You don't have to be a good cook to make vegetables taste good!
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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
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Yue, M. X. (2019). One-Week Sustainability Challenge: Veganism. TeacherMrYue. Retrieved from https://teachermryue.wixsite.com/mysite/sustainability-challenge