SDG 2: Zero hunger

I will try to keep my consumption of earth's resources at a moderate reasonable level. I will not consume more than I need in any category (food , clothes and energy). I will try to the best of my ablity not to waste resources and I will try to keep conscious of other people in other countries who might be in critical need for such resources.

In regards to "Small Changes Count ", This step is that with one small action done by one person can change someone's life .During this pandemic we are in Lockdown and that should not stop us from being environmentally friendly and also being more healthy. Small changes we make in our everyday living will make a big difference in the environment .

I will progressively increase my greens- vegetables, and fruits consumption while reducing my meat consumption. With something so routine like meat, which forms the foundation of our daily meals, something which is the number one food on the tables of people worldwide, contributes significantly to climate change. Moreover, animal culture for food production is regarded as the most disastrous invention of humankind. The rationale underlying being the inefficiency in meat production. The production of meat involves an immense burden on the ecosystem. To cultivate one kilogram of beef, it improvidently demands 25 kilograms of grain or fodder to feed the livestock (Kehoe, 2016) and nearly 15000 liters of water (World Water Development Report,2019). Pork is comparatively less exhaustive, and chicken is less still. Furthermore, about 30% of the earth's arable land is used to foster livestock (Steinfeld,2006), collectively responsible for 18 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions (FAO, 2007). These resources could be progressively used for the reconstruction of the socio-economic fabric. Meat production and consumption are escalating progressively – The Global meat production has quadrupled over the past 50 years – The total production was roughly 71 million tons in 1961 to over 340 million tons in 2018 (Hannah Ritchie, 2019). And to support this extravagant production, more than 80billion animals are slaughtered each year for meat at an unsustainable rate to feed the rapidly multiplying population- The current global-human population of 7.6 billion is estimated to attain 8.6 billion in 2030. And then to 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion by the end of 2100 (The World Population Prospects, 2017). Without opting for prescriptive measures to mitigate carbon-emissions from a population that continues to grow and consume more than in the past, exceeding the biosphere's absorption capacity leading an unhealthy amount of emissions left unabsorbed by the ecosystem as a consequence. Meat production is predominantly a hefty check written against our planet's dwindling reserves and is solely accountable for World Hunger, Environmental Degradation, Human Health, and Animal Welfare; All at Once (Friedrich, 2018).

The fast fashion phenomenon is speeding at a high rate. Many popular apparel companies take advantage of hard working labourers (especially from developing countries) to create the clothes we wear, and in return receive little to no pay. Meanwhile, ecosystems are impacted greatly as natural resources such as water are used to produce the clothing we add to our wardrobe. Additionally, fashion manufacturing companies produce heavy smoke and toxic chemicals that potentially impact the air vulnerable communities breathe in, and can cause health problems for biodiversity. I challenge myself to become more sustainably-conscious about the brands I buy/wear and I reduce my carbon footprint by limiting my shopping behaviour on new clothing, and support local vintage shops that sell pre-loved clothes. A shirt with a small rip thrown away equals to throwing away the many hours and resources spent on manufacturing and distribution. Slow down fast fashion to create a sustainable (and fashionable) future.

I aim to volunteer over the summer for food distribution charities and volunteer organisations. I believe its really important that everyone has access to nutritious and healthy food. I hope that I am able to help fight hunger in Australia by promoting the importance of not wasting food, and damage food waste problem has. 1 million tonnes of food waste is sent to landfill every year in Australia by businesses. By rescuing and redistributing this food to help feed the community, we are able to lessen the impact of food wastage that goes into landfill and also help feed the hungry.

I would like to see more pet-friendly public places like restaurants, gardens in China. Every pet would be taking good care of and no more stray animals

When we eat, there is always some food that will be wasted because here we live in an advanced country where finding food is not a problem. However, if I limit my food to a specific amount that is enough for me and save the eating outside money for 3 months, I can rise enough money to support a family for a month in Niger. p.s.: picture reference: https://www.voanews.com/africa/could-big-data-help-end-hunger-africa

As a part-time Food Service Assistant I am indirectly responsible for huge amounts of left-over good food being thrown into the thrash-bin every day. At home, I am directly responsible for a similar insensitive activity, though on a smaller scale. Walking through the streets of Melbourne, I have noticed that even in the midst of plenty, there is also poverty and hunger. I have always noticed people who are in need of or searching for food. I understand that most people feel guilty of wasting food; kind-hearted people who like to help the hungry do not know what to do with the good food they would otherwise have to throw into the dustbin. Now that Green Step has given me the opportunity to think about how to make a difference in the lives of children and marginalized people, the ‘food waste’ problem has thrown up a positive thought. The ‘problem’ I mentioned at the beginning can be turned into a solution for the hungry. Therefore, I will take my first step by providing food to the hungry in my locality with the edible food which I painfully dispose into the trash- bin. I am sure that other good-hearted people and institutions in the locality will also join. The extra food that usually goes to the waste bin from homes and institutions will go one more step before going to the waste bin (if there is anything leftover!). It will go to unmanned ‘food-available to anyone’ and ‘open display’ centers where anyone can come and put good food items and anyone who is hungry can come and take them away for free. I will start the first ‘food available to anyone’ center in front of my own residence. In the beginning, I will identify the ‘givers’ and the ‘takers’, move around, collect the food, and distribute. Later, I am sure that empathetic people will give space and facility to start collection centers where people can come and leave the food and the needy can come and take the food without hurting their self-image. So, there is one more stop-over for good food before it would have otherwise moved to the thrash-bin. And more than that, it brings joy and health to so many who would have gone to bed hungry.

Food production is a major driver of wildlife extinction. According to World Wildlife Fund, what we eat contributes to around a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for 60% of the global diversity loss. This is why I have decided to move away from a meat-dominated diet to a more plant-based diet. I am going to eat sustainably sourced foods, buying from local produce in order to support local farmers and small businesses where possible. To start out, I will cut down my red meat consumption from 5 days a week to 2 days a week and after a month, further cut down to no meat. In addition, I am going to look out for the fair trade certification seal on foods to ensure I am not only tackling the issue of the conservation of the environment, but also poverty and poor working conditions.

I will stop eating meat on any of the weekdays. By changing my habits to include buying my fruit and vegetable produce from local sellers and supporting the local economy, going for a weekly shop rather than each day to reduce my energy consumption, using recycled bags and avoiding plastics I will eat more diverse and better quality food, from more sustainable sources at a cheaper cost! WIN! WIN! WIN!