Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Don't Waste Food
In the United States about 1/4th of all prepared food goes straight into landfill, meaning more carbon emissions from garbage truck transportation and methane production from the land fills. One time I remember specifically having to save my excess food was in sixth grade camp. We were forced to sit with the same group of people everyday and all of the food scraps on our plate were collected into a bucket for the entire camp to see. It was an extreme and pretty gross way to make a point. Small things like saving leftovers or composting natural food can make a large impact on our society.
I went to a similar camp, and it's honestly upsetting me that that experience was one of the only times that I ever truly felt bad about the environment and wasting food. After each meal, people were getting angry with each other over wasting food. But this is how people should be concerned normally. Our environments (camp, out at the mall, school, home, etc) should not have to change how we feel about wasting food. I agree that small things do make a large impact. If everyone in the world focused on finishing their food (and if not, composting it), our environment would benefit immensely.
I completely agree that small changes in our life like not putting leftovers in the trash can really help our environment. I also went to a camp where we had to collect all of our leftover food in a bucket and because so few kids actually tried to help the cause, our counselors had to make it a challenge into who could produce the least amount of leftovers. It is really sad that the only way kids are able to help the environment and really care about it is when it becomes a competitive aspect with other kids. This is a serious issue because food going into the landfill produces so much extra methane gas that could be so easily avoided. After going to that camp I became a lot more conscious about only putting on my plate what I know I can eat, so I do not produce a lot of leftovers, but if I do, I always remember to compost!
yesss i agree we cant just waste food just like that