Choose Experience. The final day of the Anatomy of Action challenge - By Sofonie Dala, Angola - Day 15

 #Choose Experience

 Consider spending more time and resources on the experiences that add value to your life.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, congratulations for reaching day 15!

We have completed the 15 days of continuous challenge and we are proud of having arrived so far. The final action area is #Choose Experience and consider spending more time and resources on the experiences that add value to your life.

What have you learnt from living better and lighter for two weeks?  Was it difficult?

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” 

Creating a sustainable future does not rest on our individual shoulders alone. We can adopt more sustainable lifestyles, but this needs to be supported and facilitated by those in power, especially Governments, international institutions, businesses and billionaires. By galvanizing a global movement, we can demand a call to action.

#ChooseExpereince

Consider spending more time and resources and on experiences that add value to your life.

Could you imagine that stress levels increase with accumulation of material goods, and ultimately affects good health?

More often than not, buying something does not represent an profound or enriching life event, while living experiences may bring us closer to certain places and people – thus shaping who we are and how we see the world. 

For instance, exposure to nature increases children and youth’s emotional affinity toward nature, ecological beliefs, and willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviours.

Our collective future is dependent on the cumulative outcome of our actions today. The final (and fun) actions from the Anatomy of Action prove to positively impact individual and collective well-being. It’s time to undo the materialistic ways of the past and embrace a life of experience and adventure (be it near or far).  

HOW-TO:

CONSIDER SPENDING MORE TIME AND RESOURCES ON THE EXPERIENCES THAT ADD VALUE TO YOUR LIFE?

-Engage in experiences and services that add value to your life

-Find ways to spend time with people that you care about and make you laugh

-Spend more time connecting with nature and natural spaces

-Opt for active recreational choices for increased health and well being (sports, games, and outdoor activities)

-Find daily ways to relax, and take time out to reduce stress and anxiety

-Give yourself (more) digital detox time and embrace analog experiences

Social Media Challenge Report

Wow, what a two incredible weeks of connection, community, and collective impact!

The challenge target youth around the world - the next generation of consumers and change-makers - to show that sustainable living is easy, cool and fun.The challenge introduces one action every day and can be reactivated at any time.

Over 14 days we covered 5 main domains: food, stuff, move, money and fun, and maps out top-priority actions individuals everywhere can take to reduce their carbon footprint based on scientific evidence. By making individual changes to what food we eat, the stuff we buy, how we spend our money, how we move around and what we do for fun, we can bring about new ways of living that have more positive planet impacts.

The Anatomy of Action is also disseminated as a 15-day social media challenge that engages organizations, global influencers and the public to encourage their communities to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Sustainability is about the social, economic, and environmental considerations of what we do in our personal lives, the way we do business, and the government decisions that our elected representatives make on our behalf so that we can sustain the systems (such as food, air, and water) that every single living thing on Earth needs to survive and thrive. 

Our everyday motto is: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food

How do we create effective campaigns for living well and sustainably? Where we live, what we eat, how we move around, all have an impact on the issues we care about - our happiness, connected communities, equity, security, climate change and more. Lightening our load on the planet while improving our daily lives is a worthwhile and urgent goal for the coming decade.

Interview with Patricia Ramos

What happens when you try to raise issues around consumerism  and over-consumption and the sustainability of lifestyles?

Good Morning! What is your name?

Good morning, my name is Patricia Ramos.

Could you talk a little about yourself? Do you live a sustainable lifestyle?

Not a hundred percent.

What do you do in your daily life, do you like fresh air, do you practice sports?

Well, my daily life is very busy. I like to practice sports in the morning or at the end of the day because it is good for my health. As for my diet, I do not have a regulated diet because of the lifestyle we live in Angola. We wake up very early to go to work and come home very late. We often take the lunch in the car because of the workload and we forget to eat well.

While on duty we also violate lunchtime, sometimes we are a little late at lunch. But I am already used to this lifestyle.

What do you eat?

I eat a little of everything, I don't have many preferences or restrictions as long as the food is well conditioned.

Do you eat meat, chicken and fish?

Yes I eat meat, chicken, fish and seafood.

What kind of beverage do you drink?

I like the water but I really enjoy coke and eka is a type of Angolan alcoholic drink.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I like to visit this Zedu media library, to investigate, I like reading, I like to run, play sports and I like to stay with my family, enjoy a good movie at home, in my room and on the computer.

Alright. Thank you so much!

Together we can show that small actions can have a positive impact not only on the planet but also on our personal well-being!

Many of the global challenges we face today are caused by the rate we consume. Pollution, the over-extraction of resources and biodiversity loss are directly linked to increasing production to meet consumption demands. How we consume corresponds to how we live our lives. Taking individual actions to consume less, choose quality over quantity, buy local and reframe how we spend our free time sends power messages to not only our friends and family but also to the decision makers in our communities.

Find your place in the climate change movement by activating your Anatomy of Action. Build planet-friendly habits during the Take Action Challenge, where you, your friends and your family can challenge each other to make at least one better choice (or all 15 as champions of change!) to reduce the CO2, plastics, and other pollutants wreaking havoc on our planet.

The actions anyone can take

We are sorry that some of you were not able to attend all the 5 main domains of the Anatomy of Action Challenge 2021. We thought you might be interested in and benefit from watching the entire campaign.

Don't worry, we care about you! In case you missed out, you can still watch the campaign recordings and summaries, and do not forget subscribe to our channels.

Click here to watch again the 15-day social media challenge:

PROTEIN SWAPS

Reduce meat and animal product consumption habits and adopt a more plant-based diet

 USE ALL YOUR FOOD

Get organic waste out of trash heaps and landfills to reduce methane, improve soil fertility, and increase equitable access to fresh food

 GROW YOUR OWN

Grow your own food and connect to where it comes from in order to save money and to reduce transport, packaging, and food waste

Day 1 - https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/09/sustainable-lifestyle-campaign-with.html

Day 2 -https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/09/happy-international-day-of-awareness-of.html

Day 3- 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/09/free-distribution-of-soybean-milk-for.html

Day 4-

 https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/happy-international-day-of-older.html

BEYOND BUYING

Consider what you need and buy products that will last longer, be used multiple times, and are intended to be in use for as long as possible before being remanufactured or recycled

FASHION SLOW DOWN

Buy fewer and better clothes, stay away from fast fashion that mass produces at the cost of environmental and human justice

DITCH DISPOSABLES Refuse everyday products which cannot be reused

Day 5 -https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/sustainable-lifestyle-challenge-by.html

Day 6- 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/ditch-disposables-avoiding-single-use.html

KEEP ACTIVE

Keep or take up walking and cycling to work and advocate for your government and local businesses to provide more sustainable and safer public transport options

SHARE YOUR RIDE

Continue or opt for public and shared transport instead of driving, and advocate for more options

GO CLEANER

Swap to options like electric vehicles, cleaner fuels, and fewer kilometers to reduce your transport footprint

 Day 7 - 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/anatomy-of-action-challenge-by-sofonie.html

DAY 8 - 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/anatomy-of-action-challenge-angola.html

DAY 9 - 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/gocleaner-electric-vehicles-clean-fuels.html

ETHICAL INVESTING

Use your principles to guide investing and consider socially and environmentally responsible options

DIVESTMENT

Actively swap your financial institutions or services to more sustainable options

ENERGY POSITIVE HOMES

Enhance your comfort, save energy and money by adapting your home and your habits to be more efficient

 

DAY 10 -https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/ethicalinvesting-divestment-and.html

DAY 11 -https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/divestment-anatomy-of-action-challenge.html

DAY 12 -

 https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/energy-positive-homes-anatomy-of-action.html

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Staying local can reduce your carbon footprint, help local economies, and can be more cost effective. When you do go the distance, stay longer and choose better products

STAY CURIOUS 

Embrace a life of constant learning, adventure, and curiosity, and keep an open mind

CHOOSE EXPERIENCES

Consider spending more time and resources on the experiences that add value to your life

DAY 13 -https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/enjoy-journey-anatomy-of-action.html

DAY 14-https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/stay-curious-sustainable-lifestyles.html

DAY 15- 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/choose-experience-final-day-of-anatomy.html

 

Where you spend your money matters

Everything we buy has an impact on people and the planet. You have the power to choose what your money supports (and what not to support).

This campaign inspires and guides youth action for both individual and systems change that enables sustainable lifestyles.

Campaign promotion:

http://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/09/coming-soon-we-are-delighted-to.html

Campaign introduction:

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/08/happy-international-youth-day.html

Don't miss out, stay with us, you'll only win!

#AnatomyOfAction

#ActNow

#GlobalGoals

#ProteinSwaps

Across Africa in five minutes or less

Mozambique

A rebel leader in Mozambique has been killed following an intense gun battle with government troops in his forest hide-out in central Sofala province, police have said.

Mariano Nhongo – who led the Renamo Military Junta – was killed along with a close associate of his. Nhongo had broken away from Renamo, rejecting a peace deal it had signed with President Filipe Nyusi in 2019 to end conflict.

Uganda

Uganda has given out the first official documents that recognise a transgender person. Cleopatra Kambugu received her new passport and ID documents last week, identifying her as female.

She told the BBC’s Newsday programme that she hoped one day it wouldn’t be such a huge thing, but getting the papers felt like a moment in history, similar to when women got the vote.

South Africa

A German tourist and a crew member have died after a luxury houseboat caught fire on a dam in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, local media report. Five passengers and four crew were on the boat when it caught fire on the Jozini Dam on Saturday.

“They all jumped into the water and unfortunately three drowned, two bodies were recovered in the dam,” a police spokesman was quoted by the IOL news site as saying.

Ghana

Tema, Oct. 11, GNA — The Paramount Chief and Overload of Weta Traditional Area in the Ketu North Municipality, Torgbuiga Akpo Ashiakpor VI, has called for wider support for the passage of the Anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer and its related activities (LGBTQI+) Bill currently before Parliament into law.

He asserted that traditional leaders are the custodians of customs and traditions hence the need to get them protected at all cost.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean opposition leader Nelson Chamisa convoy has been attacked with “burning logs” at a village in south-eastern Masvingo province, his party, the MDC Alliance, has tweeted.

Members of his entourage were taken to hospital after being badly injured in the attack by “hired thugs”, it said.

“Burning logs were used to beat up the delegation and block the road to Charumbira Village,” the party added.

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Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Army launches offensive on all fronts – rebels

The Ethiopian army has launched coordinated attacks on all fronts against forces from the northern Tigray region, the rebels say.

They said the government was using artillery, tanks, jets and drones in an attempt to “reinvade” the region.

A senior rebel source said Tigray forces were holding their ground.

The Ethiopian government has not confirmed any fighting and a communications blackout makes independent verification impossible.

A senior member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Getachew Reda, said the government offensive launched last week was now in “full swing”.

Asked if a ground offensive had been launched, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum said the government had a responsibility to protect its citizens across the country from acts of terrorism but did not give any further details.

The 11 month-conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning that about 400,000 people were living in famine-like conditions in Tigray in July.

Another two million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Tigray – the basics

• Since 1994, Ethiopia has been divided into states, now numbering 10; they are defined on ethnic grounds by the constitution and described as largely autonomous, but with central institutions
• In 2018, following anti-government protests, Abiy Ahmed took over as prime minister and introduced reforms
• Powerful politicians from Tigray, Ethiopia’s northernmost state, accused Mr Abiy of trying to increase federal power
• Relations worsened and, after the government accused Tigrayan rebels of attacking military bases, the Ethiopian army moved in in November, backed by Eritrean troops
• Mr Abiy declared the conflict over in late November, but fighting has continued

The Ethiopian army took control of most of Tigray in November 2020, after TPLF forces seized a military base.

In June 2021 the rebels recaptured Tigray in a surprise attack, and then moved into parts of neighbouring regions like Amhara.

Mr Getachew said the current offensive was taking place in towns in Amhara region, and also involved Amharan regional forces fighting alongside the army.

The Tigray forces’ statement says “hundreds of thousands of regular and irregular fighters” have been fielded in the current assault.

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