· I require you to do three difficult exercises. First, I ask you to find engage your community in environmental action and awareness by finding an opportunity to serve an environmental organization. Second, I had you consider your everyday material practices in terms of their environmental impacts
Next, I expect you to actively confront your ecological footprint and its implications by living as close to “No Impact” as possible for one day.
Now that you are aware of the natural resource requirements your life entails, you have an opportunity to experience living your life with minimal environmental impact. For this “Low Impact” exercise, you must examine and suspend what may have become habits related to gas, electricity, batteries, transportation, food and drink. For one day (from the time you wake up until you go to bed), you should avoid using any gas, electricity, batteries, or a private vehicle. You are permitted to use non-vehicular transportation (bicycle, chair, skateboard) or mass transit. You also may not consume processed foods, drinks or bottled water (unless required for safety) and should avoid packaging unless you recycle or compost it. Try not to consume any foods that come from more than 200 miles away and make a note if you do. Finally, for this one day, you must fulfill any social needs without spending money (you are permitted to use money only to purchase mass transit tickets or fresh, local foods on this day). If you break one of the rules, explain which rule you broke, why you broke it, and what would have to happen for you to be able to follow it.
Journal about your experience throughout the day. Include your reactions to each facet of the assignment and any difficulties and challenges you experienced.
· What were the highlights?
· What did you do differently during this day?
· What did you notice?
· What enduring lessons might come from your “Low Impact” Day?
The assignment will be graded based on the extent to which you endeavor to follow the rules as well as the completeness of your journal and responses to the above questions.
Please follow the rules